The Sky Blues versus Ipswich, The Foxes v The Rams, and Additional EFL Action Previews
Greetings to a packed evening of EFL as well as international football action. Our focus includes important Championship matches plus the crucial final group matches in the Afcon tournament.
Preamble
Greetings to all. Welcome to the arguably this second-to-last football live blog of 2025. We have an extensive Football League programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two evening fixtures from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on the following games, all 19:45 start times unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- Leicester versus Derby
- Middlesbrough versus Hull
- The Lions v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v North End
League One
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Latest Team News
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, promises to be an exciting match. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, the forward, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of this evening's final set of games.
- Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents to win their pool. Zambia likely requires a draw or better against the hosts. Comoros likely must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The denouement to Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
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 |
