Coventry v The Tractor Boys, The Foxes versus Derby, along with Additional Football League Updates
Greetings to a packed evening of EFL and continental soccer action. The spotlight falls on important Championship encounters plus those crucial final group games in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota the penultimate football live blog of 2025. We have an extensive Football League schedule, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we will also monitor a close watch on both night fixtures from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on these fixtures, with 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v The Eagles (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (19:00)
Championship
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Boro versus Hull
- Millwall versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons v North End
League One
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry 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 (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, the midfielder, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. It always is where only some third-place sides qualify. This is the current state before tonight’s final round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia to win the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point against Morocco. The island nation probably must 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 to Group B at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.
Second Tier Standings 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 |
