Coventry v Ipswich, The Foxes v The Rams, along with Additional Football League Previews
Welcome to the busy evening of EFL and international football fixtures. Our focus includes major second-tier encounters and the crucial last pool games in the Afcon tournament.
Introduction
Greetings to all. Welcome to what is arguably this second-to-last soccer live blog of 2025. We have an extensive EFL schedule, 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 evening fixtures from Group A at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on the following fixtures, all 19:45 start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (19:00)
- Zambia v Morocco (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester versus The Rams
- Middlesbrough v The Tigers
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- Wrexham v North End
League One
- The Bluebirds versus Stevenage
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, promises to be an exciting match. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
The situation is complex. That's often the case where only some third-placed teams progress. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's last set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents and win the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against the hosts. The island nation probably must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act of Group B at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, avoid following that coverage.
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 |
