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Greetings for the packed night of Football League and continental football fixtures. The spotlight falls on important second-tier encounters plus the crucial final group games in this Afcon tournament.

Preamble

Greetings to all. Welcome to what is checks writing desk rota this penultimate soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s a full EFL programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two evening fixtures from Group A at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.

We'll be focussing on the following games, with 19:45 kick-offs unless stated.

Afcon 2025

• Comoros v The Eagles (19:00)
• The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (19:00)

Championship

• The Sky Blues v Ipswich (6pm)
• Leicester versus Derby
• Middlesbrough versus Hull
• The Lions v The Robins
• Wrexham versus Preston

Third Tier Fixture

• The Bluebirds v Stevenage

Latest Lineup Updates

Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups

The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the Championship, could be a cracker. Here are the starting elevens.

Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, the attacking midfielder, Mason-Clark; the striker.

Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.

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

Substitutes: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.

The official Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations

It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-place teams progress. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s last set of matches.

• The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
• The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
• Zambia 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
• Comoros 1pt, -2 goal difference

To summarize, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against the hosts. The island nation likely must to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a point.

Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.

Angola v Egypt Update

The conclusion to Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, it's best not to seek out that information.

Second Tier 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