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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