Coventry against Ipswich, The Foxes v The Rams, along with More EFL Action Updates
Greetings to the busy night of EFL and continental football action. Our focus includes major Championship clashes and the pivotal final group games in the Afcon competition.
Preamble
Greetings to all. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota this second-to-last football live blog of 2025. We have a full EFL slate, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we will also monitor a close watch on the two evening games from Group A at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on these games, with 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v Mali (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes v Derby
- Middlesbrough v The Tigers
- Millwall versus The Robins
- Wrexham v Preston
League One
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, promises to be a cracker. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, the centre-half, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. It always is where only some third-placed sides progress. This is the current state ahead of this evening's final round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents to top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point versus Morocco. Comoros likely must to overcome Mali, who should advance with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Update
The final act of Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
Championship Standings 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 |
