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Hello for the packed night of EFL as well as continental soccer action. The spotlight falls on key second-tier matches plus those crucial last group matches in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Introduction

Greetings to all. You are welcome to what is reportedly this second-to-last football live blog of the year. There’s an extensive Football League slate, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, while we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on the two evening games from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.

We'll be focussing on the following matches, all 19:45 kick-offs except where noted.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• The Coelacanths versus The Eagles (19:00)
• The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (19:00)

Second Division Matches

• The Sky Blues v Ipswich (18:00)
• The Foxes v The Rams
• Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
• Millwall v The Robins
• Wrexham v North End

Third Tier Fixture

• The Bluebirds versus Boro

Latest Team News

Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups

The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, looks like an exciting match. Here are the confirmed lineups.

Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, Kitching, the left-back; Torp, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.

Subs: Wilson, Allen, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.

Ipswich Town (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; the defender, the centre-half, Kipre, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.

Subs: Palmer, the defender, Johnson, the defender, Cajuste, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, Akpom.

Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations

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

• The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
• The Eagles 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
• The Copper Bullets 2 points, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
• Comoros 1 point, -2 goal difference

Briefly, Morocco is likely safe but will want to defeat Zambia to top the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. Comoros probably must to beat Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.

Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.

Egypt's Match with Angola Latest

The final act of the second group at the Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. For those wishing to remain unaware, it's best not to seek out that information.

Second Tier 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