🔗 Share this article

Hello to a packed evening of EFL as well as international football fixtures. We'll be covering key second-tier clashes plus the crucial last group matches in this Afcon competition.

Introduction

Hello everyone. Welcome to what is reportedly this second-to-last football clockwatch of the year. There’s a full Football League schedule, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both evening fixtures from the first group at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.

We'll be focussing on the following games, with 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.

Afcon 2025

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

Championship

• Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
• Leicester v Derby
• Boro versus The Tigers
• The Lions v The Robins
• Wrexham versus North End

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff v Stevenage

Latest Team News

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The early game, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, could be an exciting match. Here are the starting elevens.

Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; Torp, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.

Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, the player.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.

Subs: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.

The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations

It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-place teams progress. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's final set of games.

• The Atlas Lions 4pts, GD+2
• Mali 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
• The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
• The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2

In short, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat their opponents to win the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against the hosts. The island nation likely need to beat their rivals, who should advance with a draw.

A host of potential results and permutations.

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The denouement to the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.

Championship 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