The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys, The Foxes against The Rams, along with Additional EFL Action Previews
Greetings for the full night of EFL as well as continental soccer fixtures. We'll be covering key Championship encounters and the pivotal last pool games in the Afcon tournament.
Introduction
Greetings to all. You are welcome to what is arguably the second-to-last soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s an extensive Football League slate, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we will also monitor a close watch on both night fixtures from Group A at the Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on these fixtures, with 19:45 start times except where noted.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros versus The Eagles (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry v Ipswich (18:00)
- Leicester v Derby
- Boro versus The Tigers
- Millwall versus Bristol City
- The Red Dragons v Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- The Bluebirds versus Boro
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, promises to be a thriller. These are the two XIs.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, Burns, the forward, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
The situation is complex. It always is when some but not all third-placed sides progress. This is the current state before tonight’s final set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1 point, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia and win the group. Zambia probably need at least a point versus the hosts. Comoros likely must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay with a point.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Update
The final act of Group B at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, 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 |
