Coventry v Ipswich, Leicester against The Rams, and Additional Football League Previews

Greetings for a packed night of Football League as well as international football fixtures. We'll be covering important Championship encounters and the crucial last pool games in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.

Preamble

Hello everyone. Welcome to the reportedly the second-to-last football live blog of 2025. There’s a full Football League programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two evening games from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.

Our primary attention will be on these matches, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• The Coelacanths v Mali (19:00)
• The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (7pm)

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
• The Foxes versus The Rams
• Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
• The Lions versus Bristol City
• The Red Dragons versus Preston

League One

• The Bluebirds versus Stevenage

Latest Lineup Updates

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, looks like an exciting match. Here are the two XIs.

Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.

Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, the player.

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

Subs: Palmer, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.

Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations

The situation is complex. It always is when some but not all third-placed teams progress. Here’s how things look before tonight’s last set of matches.

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

Briefly, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents and win the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better versus Morocco. Comoros probably need to beat Mali, who should advance with a draw.

A host of potential results and permutations.

Egypt's Match with Angola Latest

The denouement of the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. If you don’t want to know the score, avoid following that coverage.

Second Tier Table Snapshot