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Welcome for a busy evening of EFL and continental soccer fixtures. Our focus includes major second-tier matches plus the crucial final pool matches in this Afcon tournament.

Introduction

Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to the reportedly the penultimate soccer clockwatch of the year. There’s an extensive EFL slate, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both night fixtures from Group A at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Mali facing Comoros.

We'll be focussing on these fixtures, with 19:45 start times except where noted.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

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

Championship

• Coventry v Ipswich (18:00)
• The Foxes versus Derby
• Boro v The Tigers
• The Lions v Bristol City
• Wrexham v North End

Third Tier Fixture

• Cardiff v Boro

Recent Lineup Updates

Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups

The early game, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, could be an exciting match. These are the two XIs.

Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, the captain; the winger, Rudoni, the forward; Wright.

Subs: Wilson, the midfielder, the forward, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, the midfielder, Perry, the player.

Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, the centre-half, the defender, the left-back; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, the winger; Azon.

Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, Akpom.

The official Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios

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

• Morocco 4pts, +2 goal difference
• Mali 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 2)
• Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
• Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference

To summarize, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat their opponents and top their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point against Morocco. The island nation probably must to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.

Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.

Angola v Egypt Update

The denouement of Group B at the continental championship has coverage elsewhere. To avoid spoilers, it's best not to seek out that information.

Championship 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