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Greetings to a packed night of EFL and continental soccer action. The spotlight falls on major Championship clashes and those pivotal last group matches in this Afcon competition.

Introduction

Greetings to all. Welcome to the arguably the second-to-last football live blog of the year. We have an extensive EFL slate, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two night games from Group A at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.

Our primary attention will be on the following games, all 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• The Coelacanths versus Mali (19:00)
• Zambia versus Morocco (7pm)

Championship

• Coventry versus The Tractor Boys (6pm)
• The Foxes versus The Rams
• Boro versus The Tigers
• Millwall v The Robins
• Wrexham versus North End

Third Tier Fixture

• The Bluebirds versus Stevenage

Latest Lineup Updates

Ipswich at Coventry Team News

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

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

Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.

Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, the centre-half, Kipre, Greaves; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.

Subs: The goalkeeper, the defender, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.

Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: Group A Scenarios

Look, it’s complicated. That's often the case where only some third-placed sides qualify. Here’s how things look before tonight’s last round of matches.

• Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
• The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
• The Copper Bullets 2 points, GD0 (with 1 goal for)
• The Coelacanths 1pt, -2 goal difference

Briefly, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia probably need a draw or better versus the hosts. Comoros likely need to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.

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

Angola v Egypt Update

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

Second Tier Standings Snapshot

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