São Tomé and Príncipe national football team

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/sao-tome-e-principe-are-back-if-not-with-a-bang |title=São Tomé e Príncipe spring an unlikely surprise − World Soccer |publisher=Time Inc. UK |website=worldsoccer.com |date=12 February 2012 |access-date=3 December 2013 |archive-date=15 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215231656/http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/sao-tome-e-principe-are-back-if-not-with-a-bang |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web |last1=Warshaw |first1=Andrew |title=Mauritius win 2023 AFCON qualifier slot after Sao Tome break covid rules |url=https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/05/17/mauritius-win-2023-afcon-qualifier-slot-sao-tome-break-covid-rules/ |website=Inside World Football |access-date=30 May 2022 |archive-date=29 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629030534/https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/05/17/mauritius-win-2023-afcon-qualifier-slot-sao-tome-break-covid-rules/ |url-status=live }} São Tomé appealed the decision and, following an initial unsuccessful ruling, they were reinstated by CAF a week before the first qualifying group game.{{cite web |last1=Shehu |first1=Idris |title=Mauritius out as CAF reinstates Sao Tome to Nigeria’s group |url=https://www.thecable.ng/afcon-qualifiers-mauritius-out-as-caf-reinstates-sao-tome-to-nigerias-group |website=The Cable |access-date=9 June 2022 |archive-date=9 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609175510/https://www.thecable.ng/afcon-qualifiers-mauritius-out-as-caf-reinstates-sao-tome-to-nigerias-group |url-status=live }}

{{main|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.

{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFCC|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFCCCC|Loss|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFFF|Fixture|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{Footballbox collapsible

| round = 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

| date = 22 March

| time = {{UTZ|19:00|0}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|STP}}

| score = 1–1

| report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2024-03-22/sao-tome-e-principe-vs-south-sudan/3283345/

| team2 = {{fb|SSD}}

| goals1 =

• Leal {{goal|50}}

| goals2 =

• Elly {{goal|78}}

| stadium = Berkane Municipal Stadium

| location = Berkane, Morocco

| attendance =

| referee = Alhasan Bass (Gambia)

| result = D

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible

| round = 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

| date = 26 March

| time = {{UTZ|17:00|0}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|SSD}}

| score = 0–0

| aggregatescore = 1–1

| report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2024-03-26/south-sudan-vs-sao-tome-e-principe/3283346/

| team2 = {{fb|STP}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Berkane Municipal Stadium

| location = Berkane, Morocco

| attendance =

| referee = Keren Yocette (Seychelles)

| result = D

| note = 1–1 on aggregate; South Sudan won on away goals.

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible

| round = 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

| date = 6 June

| time = {{UTZ|15:00|2}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|MWI}}

| score = 3–1

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400018206

| team2 = {{fb|STP}}

| goals1 =

• Kawonga {{goal|6}}
• Nkhoma {{goal|14}}
• Mphasi {{goal|78}}

| goals2 =

• Silva {{goal|67}}

| stadium = Bingu National Stadium

| location = Lilongwe, Malawi

| attendance =

| referee = Ahmed Arajiga (Tanzania)

| result = L

}}

{{Footballbox collapsible

| round = 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

| date = 9 June

| time = {{UTZ|14:00|1}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|STP}}

| score = 0–1

| report = https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400018207

| team2 = {{fb|LBR}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Sesay {{goal|90}}

| stadium = Stade municipal d'Oujda

| location = Oujda, Morocco

| attendance =

| referee = Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar)

| result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format =

|round = 2026 World Cup qualification

|date = 21 March

|time = {{UTZ|14:00|1}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|EQG}}

|score = 2–0

|team2 = {{fb|STP}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

• Nsue {{goal|14}}
• Salvador {{goal|17}}

|stadium = Estadio de Malabo

|location = Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

|attendance =

|referee = Adissa Abdul Raphiou Ligali (Benin)

|report = [https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400019705 Report (FIFA)]
[https://www.cafonline.com/fifa-world-cup/match-centre?competition=340&season=112026&match=2407615 Report (CAF)]

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format =

|round = 2026 World Cup qualification

|date = 24 March

|time = {{UTZ|16:00|0}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|LBR}}

|score = 2–1

|team2 = {{fb|STP}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex

|location = Paynesville, Liberia

|attendance =

|referee =

|report = [https://www.fifa.com/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400019707 Report (FIFA)]
[https://www.cafonline.com/fifa-world-cup/match-centre?competition=340&season=112026&match=2407620 Report (CAF)]

|result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format =

|round = 2026 World Cup qualification

|date = September

|time =

|team1 = {{fb-rt|STP}}

|score =

|team2 = {{fb|EQG}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium =

|location =

|attendance =

|referee =

|report =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format =

|round = 2026 World Cup qualification

|date = September

|time =

|team1 = {{fb-rt|NAM}}

|score =

|team2 = {{fb|STP}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium =

|location =

|attendance =

|referee =

|report =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format =

|round = 2026 World Cup qualification

|date = October

|time =

|team1 = {{fb-rt|STP}}

|score =

|team2 = {{fb|TUN}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium =

|location =

|attendance =

|referee =

|report =

|result =

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|format =

|round = 2026 World Cup qualification

|date = October

|time =

|team1 = {{fb-rt|STP}}

|score =

|team2 = {{fb|MWI}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium =

|location =

|attendance =

|referee =

|report =

|result =

}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|FRG}} Rudi Gutendorf (1984)
• {{flagicon|STP}} Juvenal Correia (1998)
• {{flagicon|STP}} Eduardo de Sousa (2000)
• {{flagicon|BRA}} Antônio Dumas (2000–2001)
• {{flagicon|POR}} Jose Ferraz (2003–2005)
• {{flagicon|STP}} Osvaldo Lima (2011)
• {{flagicon|CMR}} Gustave Clément Nyoumba (2011–2015)
• {{flagicon|STP}} António do Rosário (2015–2017)
• {{flagicon|CMR}} Gustave Clément Nyoumba (2017–2019)
• {{flagicon|STP}} Adriano Eusébio (2019–present)

{{div col end}}

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Equatorial Guinea and Liberia on 21 and 24 March 2025.[https://www.instagram.com/p/DGvDBioNdT0/ Convocatória da seleção nacional 🇸🇹]

Caps and goals correct as of 24 March 2025, after the match against Liberia

{{nat fs g start|background=yellow|color=green}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=Pedro Mateus|age={{bda|df=y|1996|9|27}}|caps=6|goals=0|club=Feirense|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=Fehér|age={{bda|df=y|2004|1|27}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Leões Porto Salvo|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=GK|name=Yaniel Bonfim|age={{bda|df=y|2004|11|2}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Celtic Castilla|clubnat=ESP}}

{{nat fs break|background=yellow|color=green}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=Vavá Pequeno|age={{birth date and age|1994|2|5|df=y}}|caps=13|goals=0|club=Comércio e Indústria|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=Adjakson|age={{bda|df=y|2002|10|8}}|caps=12|goals=0|club=Novoli|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=Rogério Fernandes|age={{bda|df=y|2002|8|28}}|caps=9|goals=0|club=Guarda FC|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=Gilberto|age={{bda|df=y|2000|12|2}}|caps=7|goals=0|club=6 de Setembro|clubnat=STP}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=Ricardo Fernandes|age={{bda|df=y|2002|8|28}}|caps=5|goals=0|club=União de Santarém|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=DF|name=Elias Varela|age={{bda|df=y|2000|5|19}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Argozelo|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs break|background=yellow|color=green}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=Iniesta|age={{bda|df=y|1992|10|21}}|caps=15|goals=2|club=Leões Porto Salvo|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=Joel Neves|age={{bda|df=y|1994|5|1}}|caps=14|goals=0|club=Oriental|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=Mauro Vilhete|age={{bda|df=y|1993|5|10}}|caps=6|goals=0|club=Hampton & Richmond Borough|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=João Silva|age={{bda|df=y|2005|6|15}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Farsley Celtic|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=Nicola Bragança|age={{bda|df=y|2000|4|23}}|caps=2|goals=0|club={{ill|FC Serpa|lt=Serpa|pt|Futebol Clube de Serpa}}|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=Dola|age={{bda|df=y|1999|10|11}}|caps=2|goals=1|club=Sporting Praia Cruz|clubnat=STP}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=Waldimison|age={{bda|df=y|1997|6|1}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Associação Murteirense|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=MF|name=Jamil Pires|age={{bda|df=y|1997|1|22}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Comércio e Indústria|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs break|background=yellow|color=green}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=Eba Viegas|age={{bda|df=y|1999|10|8}}|caps=17|goals=0|club=Modica|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=Ronaldo Afonso|age={{bda|df=y|2000|7|11}}|caps=14|goals=0|club=Paços de Ferreira|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=Mimi|age={{bda|df=y|1996|10|07}}|caps=13|goals=0|club=Bansko|clubnat=BUL}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=Sérgio Malé|age={{bda|df=y|2004|5|8}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Estrela da Amadora|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=|pos=FW|name=Edson Daio|age={{bda|df=y|2002|12|16}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=NK Pitomača|clubnat=CRO}}

{{nat fs g end}}

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

{{nat fs r start|background=yellow|color=green}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Nuno Malheiro|age={{bda|df=y|1994|2|1}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=UMF Grindavík|clubnat=ISL|latest=v. {{Fb|Liberia}}, 9 June 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Lúcio Oliveira|age={{bda|df=y|1992|11|26}}|caps=9|goals=0|club=Lagoa|clubnat=POR|latest=v. {{fb|NAM}}; 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Auleocárcio|age={{bda|df=y|1998|7|10}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Imortal|clubnat=POR|latest=v. {{fb|NAM}}; 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=Marcos Barbeiro|age={{bda|df=y|1995|7|29}}|caps=16|goals=1|club=Pontevedra|clubnat=ESP|latest=v. {{Fb|Liberia}}, 9 June 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=Aldair|age={{bda|df=y|1989|9|4}}|caps=14|goals=0|club=RSD Jette|clubnat=BEL|latest=v. {{Fb|Liberia}}, 9 June 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=Denilson|age={{bda|df=y|1998|7|2}}|caps=8|goals=1|club=Omladinac Gornja Vrba|clubnat=CRO|latest=v. {{Fb|Liberia}}, 9 June 2024}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Luís Leal|age={{bda|df=y|1987|5|29}}|caps=29|goals=11|club=Bentín Tacna Heroica|clubnat=PER|latest=v. {{Fb|EQG}}, 21 March 2025 ^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Edmílson Viegas|age={{bda|df=y|1996|10|29}}|caps=9|goals=1|club=Íþróttafélagið Höttur|clubnat=ISL|latest=v. {{Fb|Liberia}}, 9 June 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Gué|age={{bda|df=y|2001|9|23}}|caps=8|goals=2|club=KPV|clubnat=FIN|latest=v. {{Fb|Liberia}}, 9 June 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Kelve Semedo|age={{bda|df=y|2004|5|9}}|caps=5|goals=0|club=Académico de Viseu U23|clubnat=POR|latest=v. {{fb|NAM}}; 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Álvaro|age={{bda|df=y|1998|4|23}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Barreirense|clubnat=POR|latest=v. {{fb|NAM}}; 21 November 2023}}

{{nat fs end}}

{{updated|9 June 2024}}{{cite web |title=Sao Tome and Principe |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/country/160/Sao_Tome_And_Principe.html |website=National Football Teams}}

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

File:Luís Leal en Newell's Old Boys.jpg

|-

!Total

!0 titles

!0/35

!—

!—

!—

!—

!—

!—

!36

!6

!6

!24

!29

!93

|}

{{#lst:São Tomé and Príncipe national football team results|Record by opponent}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.cafonline.com/member-associations/stp/ São Tomé and Príncipe] at CAF
• [https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/associations/STP São Tomé and Príncipe] at FIFA

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Category:African national association football teams