The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys, Leicester v Derby, along with Additional Football Action Updates
Greetings for the packed night of Football League and international soccer fixtures. We'll be covering important Championship matches and the crucial last pool games in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Preamble
Oh, hi folks. Welcome to the reportedly this penultimate football live blog of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League slate, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we will also monitor a close watch on both evening fixtures from Group A at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on the following fixtures, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths v Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- The Sky Blues v Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Boro v The Tigers
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v North End
League One
- The Bluebirds v Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, looks like a cracker. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-place sides qualify. This is the current state before tonight’s last round of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- Mali 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat their opponents and top their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation likely must to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The final act of the second group at the 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 |
