São Tomé and Príncipe national football team explained

São Tomé and Príncipe
Nickname:Seleção dos Falcões e Papagaios
(Falcons and True Parrots Team)
Guerreiros do Equador
(Warriors of the Equator)
Association:Federação Santomense de Futebol (FSF)
Sub-Confederation:UNIFFAC (Central Africa)
Confederation:CAF (Africa)
Coach:Adriano Eusébio
Captain:Luís Leal
Most Caps:Joazhifel Soares (29)
Top Scorer:Luís Leal (11)
Home Stadium:Estádio Nacional 12 de Julho
Fifa Trigramme:STP
Fifa Max:115
Fifa Max Date:March 2012
Fifa Min:200
Fifa Min Date:September – October 2007
Elo Max:166
Elo Max Date:June 1976
Elo Min:194
Elo Min Date:August 1998
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First Game: 6–1
(Libreville, Gabon; 2 May 1976)
Largest Loss: 11–0
(Libreville, Gabon; 7 July 1976)

The São Tomé and Príncipe national football team is the national association football team of São Tomé and Príncipe and is controlled by the São Toméan Football Federation. It is a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.[1]

History

São Tomé and Príncipe's first ever match was a friendly against Gabon in May 1976. They lost by a score of 6–1. Their next game, during the 1976 Central African Games, was a horrendous 11–0 loss to Congo, São Tomé's largest loss to date. São Tomé rounded off the competition with a 2–1 loss to Central African Republic and a 5–0 loss to Chad.

The following year, São Tomé picked up their first win, in a friendly versus Rwanda. In both 1978 and 1987 they achieved a draw at home to Angola.

The Green and Yellows took an eleven year break, before a string of matches including their first entry to a FIFA sanctioned tournament. At the UNIFAC Cup in 1999, they achieved their second win, 2–0 against Equatorial Guinea. They won the next game after that, against Sierra Leone, 2–0. This two-in-a-row streak accompanied with a draw a few matches later placed them at their highest FIFA ranking to date, 179.

In 2003, São Tomé lost to Libya 1–0 and 8–0, which was a major blow to their previous success.[2] São Tomé did not participate in the qualification for the 2010 World Cup, withdrawing before their first match, leaving them unranked in the FIFA rankings because they did not play any matches for four years.

On 11 November 2011, after an eight-year hiatus, São Tomé and Príncipe participated in the qualification for the 2014 World Cup, losing to Congo 5–0, then drawing 1–1 with the same team four days later. São Tomé were reinstated in the FIFA rankings on 23 November 2011, entering at number 192.

In January 2012, in the preliminary round of 2013 AFCON Qualifiers, São Tomé achieved their first ever aggregate win, defeating Lesotho 1–0 at home then successfully defending a 0–0 draw in Maseru seven days later. In the next round, São Tomé only narrowly lost 5–4 on aggregate to Sierra Leone. In the following years, São Tomé continued to show promise with impressive wins at home to Ethiopia and Libya but poor away results prevented them from advancing again.

On 9 October 2019, São Tomé defeated Mauritius 1–3 away from home in the first leg of their preliminary round tie of 2021 AFCON Qualifiers. This was São Tomé and Príncipe's first away win in a competitive match ever. Four days later, São Tomé won 2–1 at home to advance 5–2 on aggregate and enter Group C, facing Ghana, South Africa and Sudan, where they finished bottom with zero points.

During the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, São Tomé faced Mauritius, winning the first leg 1–0 before drawing the second leg 3–3 to advance to the group stages. Following the fixtures CAF sanctioned São Tomé for their first leg victory as they hadn't followed COVID protocol for Luis Leal, giving Mauritius a 3–0 victory and eliminating São Tomé from the competition.[3] São Tomé appealed the decision and, following an initial unsuccessful ruling, they were reinstated by CAF a week before the first qualifying group game.[4]

Results and fixtures

See main article: São Tomé and Príncipe national football team results. The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2024

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Malawi and Liberia on 6 and 9 June 2024.May 2024.

Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2024, after the match against Liberia

Recent call ups

The following players were also named to a squad in the last 12 months.

Player records

[5]

Players in bold are still active with São Tomé and Príncipe.

Most appearances

width=30pxRankPlayerwidth=50pxCapswidth=50pxGoalsCareer
1Joazhifel Soares3612011–present
2Luís Leal29112012–present
3Ivonaldo2602014–present
42032011–2021
51802011–2018
6Harramiz1722015–present
7Marcos Barbeiro1612016–present
Eba Viegas1602021–present
9Leonildo Soares1502016–present
10Aldair Santos1402016–present

Top goalscorers

width=30pxRankPlayerwidth=50pxGoalswidth=50pxCapswidth=50pxRatioCareer
1Luís Leal11292012–present
2Jair Nunes4122011–2016
33202011–2021
4Amilcar232000
Gué282021–present
Iniesta2132017–present
Harramiz2172015–present

Competition records

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup recordQualification record
YearRoundPosition
1930 to 1974Part of Part of
1978 to 1986Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member
1990Did not enterDeclined participation
1994WithdrewWithdrew
1998Did not enterDid not enter
2002Did not qualify210124
2006200209
2010WithdrewWithdrew
2014Did not qualify201116
2018210113
2022200213
2026To be determined4004110
2030To be determined
2034
Total-------142111635

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations recordQualification record
YearRoundPosition
1957Part of Part of
1959
1962
1963
1965
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976Not affiliated to CAFNot affiliated to CAF
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988Did not enterDid not enter
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000Did not qualify200206
2002201125
2004WithdrewWithdrew
2006Did not qualify200209
2008Did not enterDid not enter
2010WithdrewWithdrew
2012Did not enterDid not enter
2013Did not qualify421155
2015200204
20176105419
2019200224
20218206818
20236123722
2025202011
2027To be determinedTo be determined
Total0 titles0/353666242993

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BBC Sport − São Tomé e Príncipe rocket up Fifa rankings . bbc.co.uk . BBC . 7 March 2012 . 3 December 2013 . 17 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131017091930/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17293721 . live .
  2. Web site: São Tomé e Príncipe spring an unlikely surprise − World Soccer . Time Inc. UK . worldsoccer.com . 12 February 2012 . 3 December 2013 . 15 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120215231656/http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/sao-tome-e-principe-are-back-if-not-with-a-bang . dead .
  3. Web site: Warshaw . Andrew . Mauritius win 2023 AFCON qualifier slot after Sao Tome break covid rules . Inside World Football . 30 May 2022 . 29 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220629030534/https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/05/17/mauritius-win-2023-afcon-qualifier-slot-sao-tome-break-covid-rules/ . live .
  4. Web site: Shehu . Idris . Mauritius out as CAF reinstates Sao Tome to Nigeria’s group . The Cable . 9 June 2022 . 9 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220609175510/https://www.thecable.ng/afcon-qualifiers-mauritius-out-as-caf-reinstates-sao-tome-to-nigerias-group . live .
  5. Web site: Sao Tome and Principe . National Football Teams.