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Welcome for the packed evening of EFL as well as continental football fixtures. Our focus includes major second-tier matches plus the crucial last group games in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.

Opening Notes

Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to the arguably this penultimate football live blog of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League schedule, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both night games from the first group at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.

We'll be focussing on these matches, with 19:45 start times unless stated.

Afcon 2025

• Comoros versus Mali (19:00)
• The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (19:00)

Championship

• Coventry versus Ipswich (18:00)
• The Foxes versus Derby
• Middlesbrough v The Tigers
• The Lions versus Bristol City
• The Red Dragons v Preston

Third Tier Fixture

• The Bluebirds versus Stevenage

Latest Lineup Updates

Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups

The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, looks like a cracker. Here are the confirmed lineups.

Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.

Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, the player.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.

Subs: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.

Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: Group A Permutations

Look, it’s complicated. It always is when some but not all third-placed teams qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s final round of games.

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

In short, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat their opponents and top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point versus Morocco. Comoros likely need to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a point.

A host of potential results and permutations.

Angola v Egypt Latest

The conclusion of Group B at this continental championship is being covered. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.

Second Tier Table 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