The Sky Blues versus Ipswich, Leicester v The Rams, along with More Football Action Updates
Greetings for the packed evening of EFL and international soccer fixtures. Our focus includes important Championship encounters and those pivotal final group games in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Preamble
Hello everyone. You are welcome to the arguably this penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League schedule, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night fixtures from the first group at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on these games, all 19:45 start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros versus Mali (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
- Leicester v Derby
- Middlesbrough v The Tigers
- Millwall versus The Robins
- Wrexham versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, looks like a cracker. These are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, the centre-half, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; Azon.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios
The situation is complex. That's often the case where only some third-place sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s final round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia to win their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against the hosts. The island nation likely must to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The final act of Group B at this continental championship is being covered. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.
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 |
