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Hello to the packed evening of EFL and continental soccer action. We'll be covering key second-tier encounters plus those crucial last pool matches in this Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Opening Notes

Greetings to all. Welcome to what is arguably this penultimate soccer live blog of the year. We have a full EFL slate, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both night fixtures from the first group at the Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.

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

Afcon 2025

• The Coelacanths versus Mali (7pm)
• Zambia versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)

Championship

• Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
• Leicester v Derby
• Boro versus Hull
• Millwall v The Robins
• Wrexham v North End

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff versus Boro

Recent Lineup Updates

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the second tier, looks like a thriller. These are the two XIs.

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

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

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

Subs: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, the attacker, the striker.

Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Afcon 2025: Group A Permutations

Look, it’s complicated. It always is where only some third-place teams progress. This is the current state before this evening's final set of matches.

• The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
• Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
• Zambia 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
• The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2

In short, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to defeat Zambia to top their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point against Morocco. The island nation probably need to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a point.

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

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The denouement of Group B at this continental championship is being covered. For those wishing to remain unaware, it's best not to seek out that information.

Championship Table 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