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Hello to the busy evening of Football League and international soccer action. We'll be covering major Championship encounters and those pivotal last group matches in the Afcon competition.

Opening Notes

Oh, hi folks. Welcome to the checks writing desk rota the second-to-last football live blog of the year. There’s a full EFL programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two night fixtures from the first group at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Mali facing Comoros.

Our primary attention will be on the following matches, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.

Afcon 2025

• The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (19:00)
• The Copper Bullets v The Atlas Lions (7pm)

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (18:00)
• Leicester versus Derby
• Middlesbrough v The Tigers
• Millwall v Bristol City
• Wrexham versus Preston

League One

• The Bluebirds v Stevenage

Recent Lineup Updates

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The early game, between the teams who are top and third in the Championship, could be an exciting match. Here are the starting elevens.

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

Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, the player.

Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, the winger; Azon.

Substitutes: Palmer, Young, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.

Referee Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios

It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-placed teams progress. Here’s how things look ahead of tonight’s last set of games.

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

In short, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat their opponents and top the group. Zambia likely requires a draw or better against Morocco. Comoros probably need to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay with a draw.

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

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The final act of the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, avoid following that coverage.

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