Coventry v The Tractor Boys, The Foxes versus The Rams, along with Additional EFL Action Previews
Welcome to a busy night of EFL and continental soccer fixtures. Our focus includes key Championship matches plus the crucial last group matches in this Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Preamble
Oh, hi folks. Welcome to the arguably the second-to-last soccer live blog of 2025. There’s a full EFL programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two night games from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on the following fixtures, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v Mali (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Middlesbrough v The Tigers
- Millwall v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
League One
- The Bluebirds versus Boro
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, promises to be a cracker. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-place sides progress. This is the current state before tonight’s final set of games.
- Morocco 4pts, GD+2
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia to win the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point against Morocco. Comoros probably need to beat their rivals, who should advance with a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The final act to the second group at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.
Second Tier 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 |
