Coventry versus The Tractor Boys, The Foxes against The Rams, and More EFL Action Previews
Welcome for the busy night of EFL and international football action. Our focus includes important Championship encounters and those crucial last pool games in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Hello everyone. Welcome to what is arguably this penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. We have an extensive Football League programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two night games from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on these matches, with 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (19:00)
- Zambia versus Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro versus Hull
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- Wrexham versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, looks like an exciting match. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, the striker.
The official Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations
The situation is complex. That's often the case when some but not all third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state before tonight’s last set of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia to win their pool. Zambia likely requires a draw or better against Morocco. The island nation probably need to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Angola v Egypt Update
The conclusion to Group B at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, don’t click the link.
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 |
