Nigeria vs São Tomé and Príncipe: AFCON Qualifiers 10/09/2023
Nigeria vs Sao Tome and Principe will square off in Group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifications on Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Last year\’s reverse fixture saw the Super Eagles sail to a 10-0 victory at the Stade Adrar, and they will be hoping for a repeat in front of their home fans.
Nigeria vs São Tomé and Príncipe Head-toHead Records
Sao Tome and Principe teams and Nigeria have thus far played one match.
Sao Tome and Principe won 0 matches in a row. Nigeria triumphed in one match. 0 games were drawn. In straight meetings, both clubs scored 10.00 goals per match on average.
In the real season, Sao Tome and Principe averaged 0.94 goals per match. Total goals (team and opponent) were over 1.5 goals in 6 (75.00%) of home matches. Total goals (team and opponent) were over 2.5 goals in four (50.00%) home matches in season 2023.
In season 2023, Nigeria averaged 1.41 goals per match. Total goals (team and opponent) were scored in 12 (66.67%) away matches. More than 1.5 goals.
Total goals (team and opponent) were scored in 7 (38.89%) of the away team\’s matches. More than 2.5 goals.
Nigeria National Football Team Form
Nigeria clinched their place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on June 18 with a 3-2 victory over a tenacious Sierra Leone team at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
After going two goals behind to a first-half brace from Victor Osimhen, John Keister\’s side clawed their way back into the game with goals from Mustapha Bundu and Augustus Kargbo, but Kelechi Iheanacho scored in the 95th minute to give the Super Eagles all three points.
The day before that, on March 27, Nigeria defeated Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in the Estadio 24 de Setembro thanks to a first-half penalty by Moses Simon.
Nigeria, seeking to conquer the continent for the fourth time and the first time since their 2013 triumph, has now won four of its five qualifiers, with the exception of a 1-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau on March 24.
The Super Eagles are one of 18 teams that have already secured their participation in Ivory Coast, as they lead Group A by seven points over third-placed Sierra Leone heading into the final group encounter.
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Possible starting lineup:
Uzhoho; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Ajayi, Bassey; Onyeka, Ndidi, Aribo; Chukwueze, Iheanacho, OsimhenAlso, check: CAF Champions League 2023/24 Draw, Fixtures and Standings
Sao Tome & Principe National Football Team Form
Meanwhile, Sao Tome and Principe\’s bid for their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance has failed yet again, as they are tied to the bottom of the table following a rather odd qualification campaign.
Adriano Eusebio\’s men have lost four of their five Group A games, with the only exception being a thrilling 2-2 draw against Sierra Leone on March 22 at the Stade Adrar.
This bad performance might be attributed to their weakness on defense, as they have the worst record in the qualifications, having conceded 20 goals in five matches.
Sao Tome and Principe enter the weekend without a win in 17 games in all competitions, having lost 16 and drawn one since a 2-1 triumph over Libya in the AFCON qualifiers in March 2016.
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Sao Tome & Principe\’s possible starting lineup:
Mendes; Fernandes, Varela, Ramos, Soares; Santos, Silva, Selemane; Leal, Viegas, Barbeiro
Also, check Mali vs South Sudan National Football Team 08/09/2023
Team News
Nigeria has selected 23 players for this weekend\’s match, including Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, and captain William Troost-Ekong.
Taiwo Awoniyi has scored in each of his previous eight Premier League games and has earned a position in the side, while Ahmed Musa, the nation\’s most-capped player, has been left out.
Peseiro has left out some high-profile individuals, including full-back Zaidu Sanusi and newly-signed Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi, who is recovering from an injury.
The Super Eagles roster also includes a few new faces, with center-back Jordan Torunarigha and the attacking combo of Victor Boniface and Gift Orban set to make their debuts.
In the meantime, Eusebio has picked a 21-man squad for the match against the Super Eagles, which includes goalkeeper Pedro Mateus, midfielder Denilson Silva, and veteran striker Luis Leal.
Leal, the Selecao\’s all-time record scorer, should lead the assault once more, joining Amora FC\’s Ebanilson Viegas and Marcos Barbeiro in a front three.
