Coventry v The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, along with Additional EFL League Updates

Hello to the busy evening of EFL as well as international soccer action. We'll be covering key Championship clashes plus those pivotal last pool matches in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.

Opening Notes

Greetings to all. Welcome to what is arguably this penultimate soccer live blog of 2025. We have an extensive Football League schedule, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we will also monitor a close watch on the two night games from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.

Our primary attention will be on the following fixtures, with 7.45pm start times except where noted.

Afcon 2025

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

Championship

• Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
• The Foxes versus Derby
• Boro v Hull
• Millwall versus The Robins
• The Red Dragons v North End

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff v Stevenage

Recent Lineup Updates

Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups

The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, looks like a thriller. These are the starting elevens.

Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.

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

Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.

Subs: Palmer, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.

Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios

It's a tricky picture. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides qualify. Here’s how things look before tonight’s last set of matches.

• The Atlas Lions 4pts, GD+2
• The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
• The Copper Bullets 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
• Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference

In short, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat Zambia to win the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point against Morocco. The island nation likely need to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a draw.

Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.

Angola v Egypt Latest

The final act to Group B at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, it's best not to seek out that information.

Championship Standings Overview