Welcome for the busy night of Football League as well as continental football action. We'll be covering important second-tier clashes and the crucial last group matches in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Preamble
Greetings to all. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota this penultimate soccer live blog of 2025. We have a full EFL programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two evening fixtures from Group A at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following fixtures, with 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v The Eagles (7pm)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- The Foxes v The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
- Millwall v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
League One
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, looks like a thriller. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, the forward; Wright.
Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Subs: Palmer, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. It always is when some but not all third-place sides progress. This is the current state before tonight’s final round of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat their opponents and win the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better versus Morocco. Comoros likely must to beat Mali, who should advance if they get a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement to Group B at this continental championship is being covered. If you don’t want to know the score, 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 |
