The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, along with More Football League Previews

Greetings to the packed night of Football League and international football action. Our focus includes major Championship matches and those pivotal final group games in this Afcon competition.

Introduction

Greetings to all. You are welcome to the reportedly this second-to-last soccer live blog of 2025. We have a full Football League programme, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night fixtures from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.

Our primary attention will be on the following fixtures, all 19:45 start times unless stated.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• The Coelacanths versus Mali (7pm)
• Zambia v The Atlas Lions (7pm)

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues v Ipswich (6pm)
• Leicester v The Rams
• Middlesbrough versus Hull
• The Lions versus Bristol City
• The Red Dragons versus Preston

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff v Boro

Latest Team News

Coventry v Ipswich Team News

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

Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; Torp, the captain; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.

Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.

Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.

Substitutes: The goalkeeper, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, Burns, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.

Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: First Group Permutations

It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-placed sides progress. This is the current state before this evening's final round of games.

• Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
• Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
• The Copper Bullets 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 1)
• Comoros 1 point, GD-2

In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia to win their pool. Zambia probably need a draw or better versus the hosts. Comoros probably must to beat their rivals, who should advance with a point.

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The denouement to Group B at the continental championship is being covered. For those wishing to remain unaware, avoid following that coverage.

Championship Table Snapshot