Hello to a busy evening of EFL and international football fixtures. Our focus includes important Championship matches and the pivotal last pool games in this Afcon competition.
Opening Notes
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is reportedly the penultimate soccer live blog of the year. We have a full EFL programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we will also monitor a close watch on the two evening games from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on the following games, with 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v The Eagles (7pm)
- Zambia v Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- The Foxes v Derby
- Boro versus Hull
- Millwall versus The Robins
- Wrexham v Preston
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, could be a thriller. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.
Subs: Wilson, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Afcon 2025: First Group Scenarios
The situation is complex. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides qualify. Here’s how things look before tonight’s final set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- Zambia 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat Zambia and top the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better versus Morocco. The island nation likely must to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement of the second group 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 |
