The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, The Foxes versus The Rams, along with More Football League Previews
Welcome for a busy night of Football League as well as continental football fixtures. We'll be covering important Championship matches and those pivotal final pool matches in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Opening Notes
Hello everyone. Welcome to the arguably this penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. We have a full EFL schedule, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, 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 and Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on the following matches, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (19:00)
- Zambia v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes v Derby
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- The Lions versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, could be a thriller. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, the defender, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
The situation is complex. That's often the case when some but not all third-placed sides progress. This is the current state before tonight’s last set of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco is likely safe but will want to defeat their opponents to win the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better against the hosts. Comoros likely must to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The conclusion to the second group at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
Championship Table 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 |
