The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys, The Foxes against The Rams, along with Additional Football Action Previews

Hello for the full evening of EFL and international soccer fixtures. The spotlight falls on key Championship matches and the crucial last group games in the Afcon competition.

Opening Notes

Hello everyone. You are welcome to what is checks writing desk rota the penultimate soccer live blog of the year. There’s a full Football League programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night fixtures from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.

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

Afcon 2025

• Comoros versus Mali (7pm)
• The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues v Ipswich (18:00)
• Leicester v Derby
• Boro v The Tigers
• Millwall versus Bristol City
• The Red Dragons v Preston

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff versus Boro

Recent Team News

Ipswich at Coventry Team News

The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, looks like an exciting match. These are the starting elevens.

Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, the forward; the striker.

Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.

Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, Taylor; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.

Substitutes: Palmer, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.

The official Backhouse (Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations

Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-placed teams progress. Here’s how things look before this evening's final set of games.

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

To summarize, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat Zambia to top the group. Zambia probably need at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation probably must to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.

Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The conclusion of Group B at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.

Second Tier Standings Overview