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Welcome for a packed evening of EFL as well as continental football action. The spotlight falls on important Championship matches plus those crucial final group matches in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.

Preamble

Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is checks writing desk rota this penultimate football live blog of 2025. There’s a full Football League programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping at least a third of an eye on the two night games from Group A at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.

We'll be focussing on these games, with 7.45pm start times except where noted.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

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

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (18:00)
• The Foxes v Derby
• Middlesbrough v The Tigers
• Millwall versus The Robins
• The Red Dragons v North End

League One

• Cardiff v Stevenage

Recent Team News

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, looks like a thriller. These are the confirmed lineups.

Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; Wright.

Substitutes: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, the youngster, the player.

Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.

Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.

The official Backhouse (Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios

It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-place teams qualify. This is the current state before tonight’s final set of games.

• Morocco 4 points, GD+2
• The Eagles 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
• The Copper Bullets 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
• Comoros 1pt, GD-2

Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat their opponents and win the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better against Morocco. Comoros probably need to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a point.

A host of potential results and permutations.

Egypt's Match with Angola Latest

The final act to the second group at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, don’t click the link.

Championship 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