The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, along with Additional EFL Action Previews
Greetings to the full evening of Football League as well as international soccer fixtures. We'll be covering major second-tier matches and the crucial final group games in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Introduction
Oh, hi folks. Welcome to what is reportedly this penultimate football clockwatch of 2025. There’s a full Football League schedule, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we will also monitor a close watch on the two night games from the first group at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on these fixtures, all 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros v Mali (19:00)
- Zambia v The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Middlesbrough v Hull
- The Lions versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
League One
- Cardiff versus Boro
Recent Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the Championship, could be a thriller. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; Torp, the captain; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; Azon.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. It always is when some but not all third-place teams progress. This is the current state ahead of this evening's last round of matches.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to defeat their opponents to top the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation likely must to overcome their rivals, who should advance with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The conclusion to the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
Second Tier Table Snapshot
| 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 |
