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Hello for the busy evening of EFL and continental football action. We'll be covering key Championship matches plus those pivotal last pool matches in this Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Opening Notes

Hello everyone. Welcome to the arguably this penultimate football clockwatch of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League schedule, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both evening fixtures from Group A at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.

Our primary attention will be on these matches, all 19:45 start times unless stated.

Afcon 2025

• Comoros versus Mali (7pm)
• Zambia v The Atlas Lions (19:00)

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
• Leicester v Derby
• Boro v Hull
• The Lions versus The Robins
• Wrexham v North End

League One

• The Bluebirds v Boro

Latest Lineup Updates

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, could be a thriller. These are the confirmed lineups.

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

Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, the defender, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, the player.

Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Taylor; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; Azon.

Subs: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.

The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios

Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-placed teams qualify. This is the current state before this evening's last round of games.

• Morocco 4pts, GD+2
• Mali 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
• Zambia 2pts, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
• The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2

In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia to top the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against Morocco. Comoros likely must to beat their rivals, who should advance with a point.

A host of potential results and permutations.

Angola v Egypt Update

The final act to the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. For those wishing to remain unaware, it's best not to seek out that information.

Championship Standings 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