The Sky Blues versus Ipswich, Leicester v Derby, along with More EFL League Previews
Welcome to the full evening of EFL as well as international soccer action. Our focus includes important second-tier clashes and those crucial final pool games in this Afcon tournament.
Preamble
Greetings to all. Welcome to the reportedly the penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. We have a full EFL programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we will also monitor a close watch on both evening fixtures from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on these matches, all 19:45 start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros versus Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro versus The Tigers
- The Lions v The Robins
- The Red Dragons versus Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, looks like a thriller. These are the two XIs.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides progress. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s final set of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference
To summarize, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat their opponents to win the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better versus the hosts. The island nation probably need to overcome their rivals, who should advance with a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The final act to the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, don’t click the link.
Second Tier 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 |
