The Sky Blues v The Tractor Boys, Leicester versus The Rams, along with Additional Football League Previews

Hello for the full evening of Football League as well as continental soccer fixtures. Our focus includes key Championship encounters plus those pivotal last pool matches in the Afcon tournament.

Preamble

Greetings to all. You are welcome to what is arguably the second-to-last soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s a full Football League programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two evening games from Group A at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.

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

Afcon 2025

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

Second Division Matches

• Coventry v The Tractor Boys (6pm)
• Leicester v Derby
• Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
• Millwall v Bristol City
• The Red Dragons versus Preston

Third Tier Fixture

• The Bluebirds versus Boro

Latest Team News

Coventry v Ipswich Team News

The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, promises to be an exciting match. These are the starting elevens.

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

Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, the player.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; the centre-forward.

Substitutes: The goalkeeper, the defender, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.

Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations

The situation is complex. It always is where only some third-place sides qualify. Here’s how things look before this evening's last set of games.

• Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
• The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
• Zambia 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 their opponents to top the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point against the hosts. Comoros probably need to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a draw.

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The denouement of Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, don’t click the link.

Second Tier Table Overview