Coventry versus The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, along with Additional EFL League Updates
Hello for a full night of Football League as well as continental soccer fixtures. The spotlight falls on major second-tier matches plus the crucial last pool matches in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Preamble
Oh, hi folks. Welcome to what is arguably this penultimate football clockwatch of 2025. There’s a full Football League programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we will also monitor a close watch on both night games from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these fixtures, all 19:45 start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v The Eagles (7pm)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- Leicester v Derby
- Middlesbrough v Hull
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v North End
League One
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, looks like a thriller. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, the player.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides qualify. This is the current state before this evening's last round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia to win the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation likely need to beat Mali, who should advance with a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Update
The final act of Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, don’t click the link.
Championship 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 |
