The Sky Blues v Ipswich, The Foxes against Derby, along with More EFL Action Updates
Welcome to the full evening of Football League and international soccer fixtures. The spotlight falls on key second-tier clashes plus those crucial last pool games in the Afcon competition.
Introduction
Greetings to all. Welcome to what is arguably the penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. We have a full Football League programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two evening fixtures from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following games, with 7.45pm start times except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes v The Rams
- Boro versus Hull
- The Lions v Bristol City
- Wrexham versus North End
League One
- Cardiff v Boro
Recent Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, could be a cracker. These are the two XIs.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, the forward; Wright.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-placed teams progress. This is the current state before this evening's last set of matches.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point against the hosts. The island nation likely need to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The denouement to the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, it's best not to seek out that information.
Championship 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 |
