Coventry against Ipswich, Leicester v The Rams, and Additional Football League Updates
Hello for the full evening of EFL and continental soccer fixtures. Our focus includes key second-tier encounters plus the crucial last pool matches in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to the reportedly the penultimate football clockwatch of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League slate, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night games from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on the following games, with 7.45pm start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v The Eagles (7pm)
- Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- The Foxes v The Rams
- Boro v The Tigers
- The Lions versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff versus Boro
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, promises to be a cracker. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, the forward; Wright.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
The situation is complex. It always is when some but not all third-place teams progress. This is the current state ahead of this evening's final set of games.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, GD-2
In short, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat their opponents and win their pool. Zambia probably need a draw or better against Morocco. Comoros probably must to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The conclusion to Group B at the continental championship is being covered. If you don’t want to know the score, don’t click the link.
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 |
