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Hello for a full evening of EFL as well as international soccer fixtures. The spotlight falls on important second-tier encounters plus those pivotal last pool games in the Afcon competition.

Preamble

Hello everyone. You are welcome to what is arguably the penultimate football clockwatch of 2025. There’s a full Football League programme, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two night games from the first group at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.

We'll be focussing on these fixtures, with 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.

Afcon 2025

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

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
• Leicester v Derby
• Boro v The Tigers
• Millwall versus The Robins
• The Red Dragons versus Preston

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff versus Stevenage

Recent Lineup Updates

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, promises to be a thriller. These are the starting elevens.

Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.

Substitutes: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, the youngster, the player.

Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; Azon.

Substitutes: The goalkeeper, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.

The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios

It's a tricky picture. That's often the case when some but not all third-place teams qualify. This is the current state ahead of this evening's final round of matches.

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

To summarize, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat their opponents and top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against Morocco. Comoros probably need to overcome their rivals, who should advance if they get a draw.

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

Angola v Egypt Update

The conclusion of the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.

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