Welcome for the packed night of EFL and international soccer fixtures. We'll be covering major second-tier matches plus those crucial last group matches in the Afcon tournament.
Hello everyone. You are welcome to the reportedly this second-to-last soccer clockwatch of 2025. We have an extensive EFL slate, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both evening games from the first group at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following fixtures, all 19:45 start times except where noted.
The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, looks like a cracker. Here are the two XIs.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, the player.
Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
It's a tricky picture. That's often the case where only some third-placed sides progress. This is the current state before this evening's final round of games.
In short, Morocco is likely safe but will want to defeat their opponents and win their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against the hosts. Comoros likely must to overcome their rivals, who should advance with a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
The denouement to Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.
| 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 |
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