The Sky Blues versus Ipswich, Leicester v The Rams, and More Football League Previews
Greetings to the busy evening of EFL as well as international soccer fixtures. The spotlight falls on important Championship matches and the pivotal last pool matches in this Afcon competition.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. Welcome to what is reportedly this penultimate football live blog of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League programme, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two evening games from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on the following fixtures, all 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus Mali (7pm)
- Zambia v The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry versus Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Boro v The Tigers
- The Lions versus The Robins
- Wrexham versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff versus Boro
Recent Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, promises to be an exciting match. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; Torp, Grimes; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, the player.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; Azon.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. It always is when some but not all third-place teams progress. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s last set of games.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia and win their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against Morocco. The island nation likely need to beat Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act of the second group at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, avoid following that coverage.
Championship 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 |
