🔗 Share this article

Hello for the packed evening of Football League as well as international football action. The spotlight falls on major Championship clashes plus the crucial last group games in this Afcon tournament.

Opening Notes

Hello everyone. Welcome to the arguably this penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. We have a full Football League programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both night fixtures from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Mali facing Comoros.

Our primary attention will be on the following matches, all 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.

Afcon 2025

• The Coelacanths versus Mali (19:00)
• Zambia v The Atlas Lions (7pm)

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
• The Foxes versus Derby
• Boro v The Tigers
• Millwall versus Bristol City
• Wrexham versus North End

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff versus Stevenage

Recent Lineup Updates

Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups

The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, could be an exciting match. These are the two XIs.

Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.

Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, the player.

Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; Azon.

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

Referee Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios

The situation is complex. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides progress. This is the current state before tonight’s final round of games.

• Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
• Mali 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
• Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
• Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference

To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia to win their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against Morocco. Comoros probably must to overcome 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 of the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, 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