The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys, The Foxes against The Rams, and Additional EFL Action Previews

Welcome for a full night of Football League as well as continental soccer fixtures. We'll be covering major second-tier matches and those crucial final pool games in this Afcon tournament.

Introduction

Hello everyone. You are welcome to the arguably the penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. There’s an extensive EFL schedule, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we will also monitor a close watch on both evening fixtures from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.

Our primary attention will be on the following fixtures, all 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• Comoros v The Eagles (7pm)
• The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
• Leicester v The Rams
• Boro versus The Tigers
• Millwall v The Robins
• The Red Dragons v North End

League One

• Cardiff v Boro

Latest Team News

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, looks like a thriller. These are the two XIs.

Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; Wright.

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

Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.

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

The official Anthony Backhouse (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 ahead of tonight’s final set of games.

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

To summarize, Morocco are probably fine though they will aim to defeat Zambia and win their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point versus the hosts. Comoros likely must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a draw.

A host of potential results and permutations.

Angola v Egypt Update

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

Second Tier Table Snapshot