Qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations continues this week including the match between São Tomé and Príncipe and Guinea-Bissau.
The game will be played on the 14th of June at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro and the hosts are bottom of the group on 1 point while the visitors are currently in second place on 7 points.
São Tomé and Príncipe come into the match on the back of a 2-0 loss at home by Sierra Leone in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. They conceded the opening goal after just 7 minutes and fell further behind 21 minutes later. Despite not conceding any more goals, São Tomé and Príncipe could not find the back of the net themselves and lost the game.
The defeat against Sierra Leone means São Tomé and Príncipe have failed to win any of their 5 most recent fixtures, all of which have been in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. They managed to draw 3-3 in Mauritius, which was enough to see them qualify for the group stage 4-3 on aggregate but it has gone downhill from that point.
São Tomé and Príncipe have lost 3 of their 4 group qualifying games, including a 5-1 defeat in the reverse fixture in Guinea-Bissau and a humiliating 10-0 loss at the hands of Nigeria, who are favourites to win the group. Trends show São Tomé and Príncipe have won just 4 of their last 24 matches in Africa Nations Cup qualifying.
Guinea-Bissau travel to the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro having previously lost 1-0 at home to Nigeria in Africa Nations Cup qualifying. The only goal of the game was scored from the penalty spot in the 30th minute and that was enough for Nigeria to go home with all 3 points.
The loss at home to Nigeria came as a disappointment to Guinea-Bissau as they had previously beat the Super Eagles 1-0 away in the group. Guinea-Bissau won that match 1-0 but that is their only victory in their 6 most recent fixtures in all competitions.
In terms of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, Guinea-Bissau are undefeated in 5 of their last 6 matches. They have not been beaten in their last 3 away qualifying games and have won 2 of those matches.
Team news and São Tomé and Príncipe will be relying on striker Luís Leal for goals, as he is the top scorer in their squad. Both goalkeepers in the squad are inexperienced at international level.
Guinea-Bissau should start with Troyes forward Mama Baldé in attack, with support from Piqueti and Dálcio out wide.
This should be a comfortable win for Guinea-Bissau against a team who have already been eliminated from qualifying. Having recorded a 5-1 home win over São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau should pick up another 3 points and could keep a clean sheet in the process.