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Welcome for the packed evening of Football League as well as international soccer action. The spotlight falls on key Championship encounters plus the pivotal final pool matches in this Africa Cup of Nations competition.

Opening Notes

Hello everyone. Welcome to the reportedly the penultimate football clockwatch of the year. We have a full EFL schedule, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both evening fixtures from the first group at this Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia and Mali facing Comoros.

Our primary attention will be on these fixtures, all 7.45pm start times unless stated.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• The Coelacanths v The Eagles (7pm)
• Zambia versus Morocco (7pm)

Second Division Matches

• Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
• The Foxes v Derby
• Middlesbrough v Hull
• The Lions versus Bristol City
• The Red Dragons versus North End

League One

• Cardiff versus Boro

Recent Team News

Ipswich at Coventry Team News

The early game, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, looks like a cracker. Here are the confirmed lineups.

Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; van Ewijk, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; Torp, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.

Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.

Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, the centre-half, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; Azon.

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

The official Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations

Look, it’s complicated. It always is when some but not all third-place sides qualify. This is the current state before tonight’s last set of matches.

• Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
• Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
• Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
• The Coelacanths 1 point, GD-2

Briefly, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat Zambia and top the group. Zambia probably need at least a point against Morocco. The island nation probably must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.

A host of potential results and permutations.

Angola v Egypt Latest

The conclusion to Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.

Second Tier Table 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