Coventry against Ipswich, Leicester against The Rams, along with More Football Action Updates
Hello to a busy evening of EFL and international football fixtures. We'll be covering major second-tier encounters and the crucial final pool games in the Afcon competition.
Opening Notes
Hello everyone. Welcome to what is arguably this second-to-last football clockwatch of 2025. We have a full EFL slate, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both evening games from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on these matches, all 19:45 start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v Mali (19:00)
- Zambia v Morocco (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Middlesbrough v The Tigers
- Millwall v Bristol City
- Wrexham v North End
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, could be a thriller. These are the two XIs.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, the defender, the left-back; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, Nunez, the winger; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. It always is when some but not all third-placed teams progress. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s last round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents to win their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation likely need to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The conclusion to the second group at the continental championship is being covered. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.
Second Tier Table Overview
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coventry | 23 | 31 | 51 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 23 | 9 | 43 |
| 3 | Ipswich | 23 | 15 | 38 |
| 4 | Hull | 23 | 2 | 38 |
| 5 | Preston North End | 23 | 7 | 37 |
| 6 | Bristol City | 23 | 7 | 36 |
| 7 | Millwall | 23 | -6 | 36 |
| 8 | Watford | 23 | 4 | 35 |
| 9 | QPR | 23 | -2 | 35 |
| 10 | Stoke | 23 | 7 | 34 |
| 11 | Derby | 23 | 1 | 32 |
| 12 | Southampton | 23 | 4 | 31 |
| 13 | Wrexham | 23 | 2 | 31 |
| 14 | Leicester | 23 | -1 | 31 |
| 15 | Birmingham | 23 | 1 | 30 |
| 16 | West Brom | 23 | -5 | 28 |
| 17 | Charlton | 22 | -6 | 27 |
| 18 | Blackburn | 22 | -4 | 26 |
| 19 | Sheff Utd | 23 | -5 | 26 |
| 20 | Swansea | 23 | -7 | 26 |
| 21 | Oxford Utd | 23 | -8 | 22 |
| 22 | Portsmouth | 22 | -10 | 22 |
| 23 | Norwich | 23 | -9 | 21 |
| 24 | Sheff Wed | 22 | -27 | -8 |