The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys, The Foxes v Derby, along with Additional EFL League Previews
Greetings to a busy night of Football League as well as continental football fixtures. Our focus includes key Championship encounters and the pivotal final pool games in the Afcon competition.
Introduction
Hello everyone. Welcome to the reportedly the penultimate football live blog of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both night games from Group A at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following games, with 19:45 start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros versus The Eagles (19:00)
- Zambia versus Morocco (19:00)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Boro v The Tigers
- The Lions v Bristol City
- Wrexham versus North End
League One
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, could be an exciting match. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Subs: The goalkeeper, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, the striker.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-placed sides progress. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's last round of games.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents to win their pool. Zambia probably need a draw or better against Morocco. The island nation probably must to overcome Mali, who should advance if they get a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Update
The conclusion to Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
Championship Standings 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 |
