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Welcome for a packed night of EFL and continental football fixtures. The spotlight falls on key second-tier clashes and those crucial final group games in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.

Introduction

Hello everyone. Welcome to the arguably the second-to-last football live blog of 2025. We have an extensive Football League programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two evening games from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.

Our primary attention will be on the following games, all 19:45 start times unless stated.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• The Coelacanths v Mali (7pm)
• Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)

Championship

• Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
• The Foxes v Derby
• Middlesbrough versus Hull
• Millwall v The Robins
• The Red Dragons versus North End

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff v Stevenage

Recent Lineup Updates

Ipswich at Coventry Team News

The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, promises to be a thriller. These are the starting elevens.

Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, the left-back; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.

Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, the player.

Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.

Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.

The official Backhouse (Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: Group A Permutations

The situation is complex. It always is when some but not all third-placed sides progress. Here’s how things look before this evening's final set of matches.

• Morocco 4pts, GD+2
• The Eagles 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
• Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
• Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference

Briefly, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to beat Zambia to top the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better versus the hosts. The island nation likely must to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a point.

Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The conclusion of Group B at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, it's best not to seek out that information.

Second Tier Table 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