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Greetings to the packed night of EFL and international football action. The spotlight falls on important Championship clashes and the crucial last pool matches in this Afcon competition.

Introduction

Hello everyone. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota the penultimate soccer live blog of 2025. We have an extensive EFL programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both night fixtures from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.

Our primary attention will be on these matches, with 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (7pm)
• The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (19:00)

Championship

• The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
• Leicester v The Rams
• Boro versus Hull
• The Lions v The Robins
• The Red Dragons versus Preston

Third Tier Fixture

• The Bluebirds versus Boro

Latest Team News

Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups

The early game, between the teams who are first and third in the Championship, could be a thriller. These are the starting elevens.

Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.

Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, the player.

Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; the centre-forward.

Substitutes: The goalkeeper, Young, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.

Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations

It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-place teams qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's last round of matches.

• 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 1 point, -2 goal difference

In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia and win the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against Morocco. The island nation probably must to beat their rivals, who should advance if they get a draw.

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.

Egypt's Match with Angola Latest

The denouement to the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. If you don’t want to know the score, it's best not to seek out that information.

Championship Standings 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