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Welcome for a packed evening of EFL and international football fixtures. Our focus includes important second-tier encounters plus those crucial last group games in this Afcon competition.

Preamble

Greetings to all. Welcome to what is checks writing desk rota this second-to-last football live blog of 2025. We have an extensive EFL slate, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we will also monitor a close watch on both night games from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.

We'll be focussing on the following games, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (7pm)
• Zambia v Morocco (7pm)

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (18:00)
• Leicester v Derby
• Middlesbrough versus Hull
• The Lions versus The Robins
• The Red Dragons versus Preston

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff v Boro

Latest Lineup Updates

Coventry v Ipswich Team News

The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, could be a thriller. These are the starting elevens.

Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; Torp, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.

Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.

Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, the winger; the centre-forward.

Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.

The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations

Look, it’s complicated. It always is where only some third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of this evening's last round of games.

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

In short, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat their opponents to top their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point against the hosts. Comoros likely need to beat Mali, who should advance if they get a point.

A host of potential results and permutations.

Angola v Egypt Latest

The denouement of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.

Championship 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