The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys, Leicester versus The Rams, along with More Football League Updates
Hello to a busy night of Football League as well as continental football fixtures. We'll be covering major Championship encounters and the pivotal last pool matches in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. Welcome to the arguably this penultimate soccer live blog of the year. We have a full Football League slate, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on both evening fixtures from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these fixtures, all 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- Comoros versus Mali (7pm)
- Zambia v Morocco (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes v Derby
- Boro v The Tigers
- The Lions v The Robins
- The Red Dragons v North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, could be a cracker. These are the two XIs.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. It always is where only some third-placed sides progress. Here’s how things look before tonight’s last set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia and win the group. Zambia probably need at least a point versus Morocco. Comoros probably must to overcome their rivals, who should advance if they get a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement of the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.
Second Tier 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 |
