The Sky Blues versus Ipswich, The Foxes versus Derby, and Additional Football League Updates

Welcome to the full night of EFL as well as continental soccer fixtures. The spotlight falls on key Championship matches and those pivotal final group games in this Afcon competition.

Preamble

Hello everyone. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota the penultimate football clockwatch of the year. There’s a full Football League slate, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night fixtures from the first group at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.

We'll be focussing on the following games, with 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• Comoros v Mali (7pm)
• The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (19:00)

Championship

• The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
• The Foxes versus Derby
• Boro versus Hull
• The Lions v The Robins
• Wrexham v Preston

League One

• The Bluebirds versus Stevenage

Recent Team News

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The evening's opener, between the teams who are top and third in the second tier, could be an exciting match. Here are the two XIs.

Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.

Substitutes: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, the player.

Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.

Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.

Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios

Look, it’s complicated. It always is where only some third-place teams progress. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s final round of matches.

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

Briefly, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat their opponents to win the group. Zambia probably need at least a point against Morocco. The island nation probably need to overcome Mali, who should advance if they get a point.

Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The conclusion of the second group at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, avoid following that coverage.

Second Tier Table Overview