Coventry v Ipswich, Leicester v The Rams, and Additional Football Action Previews
Hello to a packed night of EFL and continental soccer action. The spotlight falls on important second-tier clashes and the pivotal last pool games in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Preamble
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to the reportedly this second-to-last football live blog of 2025. We have an extensive Football League slate, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both night games 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 games, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v Mali (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- The Foxes versus The Rams
- Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
- The Lions v The Robins
- The Red Dragons v North End
League One
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, promises to be an exciting match. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, the forward; the striker.
Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of this evening's last round of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, GD+2
- Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco is likely safe but will want to defeat Zambia to top the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better versus Morocco. Comoros likely must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The denouement of Group B at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, don’t click the link.
Second Tier 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 |
