Lena is a seasoned sports analyst with over a decade of experience in betting strategies and statistical modeling.
Greetings for a packed evening of EFL and international football action. The spotlight falls on key Championship matches plus the pivotal final pool matches in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Hello everyone. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota the second-to-last football clockwatch of 2025. We have a full EFL programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two night fixtures from the first group at this Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these games, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, promises to be a cracker. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Subs: Palmer, the defender, the midfielder, the defender, Cajuste, Burns, the forward, the attacker, Akpom.
The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-place sides progress. This is the current state before this evening's final round of matches.
To summarize, Morocco is likely safe but will want to beat Zambia and win their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus Morocco. The island nation likely must to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
The conclusion of the second group at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.
| 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 |
Lena is a seasoned sports analyst with over a decade of experience in betting strategies and statistical modeling.