Coventry against Ipswich, Leicester against The Rams, along with More EFL Action Previews
Hello to a packed night of EFL as well as international soccer fixtures. The spotlight falls on key Championship clashes plus those crucial last pool games in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Introduction
Greetings to all. You are welcome to the arguably the second-to-last soccer live blog of 2025. There’s an extensive EFL programme, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both evening fixtures from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following fixtures, with 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v Mali (7pm)
- Zambia v The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry versus Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Middlesbrough v The Tigers
- Millwall v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus North End
League One
- The Bluebirds versus Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, promises to be an exciting match. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of this evening's final set of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, GD-2
Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat their opponents and win their pool. Zambia probably need a draw or better versus Morocco. The island nation probably must to beat their rivals, who should advance if they get a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Angola v Egypt Update
The denouement of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, avoid following that coverage.
Second Tier 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 |
