Sao Tome & Principe vs. Nigeria: Preview, prediction, possible lineup as Super Eagles look to crush the Falcons

In a repeat of the David and Goliath match-up, Sao Tome and Principe will purpose to shock the soccer world and file crucial win of their historical past by beating their extra illustrious foes on a impartial floor

Nigeria will commerce tackles with the tiny island nation of Sao Tome and Principe on Monday, June 13, in a matchday two fixture of Group A’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying marketing campaign.

With a inhabitants roughly the scale of Apapa, one of many smallest native authorities areas in Lagos, Nigeria, Sao Tome & Precept (183rd) face a behemoth within the former African champions (thirtieth), 153 locations above them on the FIFA rating.

Match preview

The Tremendous Eagles barely received out of first gear on matchday one however had sufficient high quality to return from behind and inflict a 2-1 defeat on Sierra Leone contained in the MKO Stadium In Abuja.

Everton’s Alex Iwobi cancelled Jonathan Morsay’s Eleventh-minute header with a deft end earlier than Napoli’s Victor Osimhen smashed dwelling the winner moments earlier than halftime for the Eagles’ tenth-ever win over the Leone Stars.

Sao Tome & Principe had it worse on the identical day, stumbling to a 5-1 defeat in Guinea-Bissau regardless of taking an early lead via Edmílson Viegas.

The Sao Tomeans face a fair sterner check after they file out towards three-time African champions, Tremendous Eagles.

Head-to-head

The sport in Agadir would be the first-ever matchup between the 2 groups as Nigeria’s Tremendous Eagles have by no means met the Falcons and Patriot Crew of Sao Tome & Principe.

It’s no shock because the Falcons seldom combine it up towards the massive sides. The Islanders have by no means certified for the FIFA World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nonetheless, the Sao Tomeans boast a poor file, with Mauritius the one workforce they’ve drawn towards or crushed within the final six years, shedding 17 of 21 matches inside that interval.

Nigeria, although, ended a run of 5 matches with out a win with Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Sierra Leone.

With 9 wins and three attracts of their final 12 Afcon qualifiers, the Tremendous Eagles are the large favourites to choose up the utmost factors in Morocco.

Match particulars

Regardless that they’re the designated dwelling workforce, Sao Tome & Principe will host this recreation on the Stade d’Agadir in Morocco, because the island nation has no stadium match to accommodate a match of this nature.

Africa Cup of Nations Qualification
Recreation week 2
Date: June 13, 2022
Time: 14:00 (2 pm, Nigerian time)
Venue: Stade d’Agadir, Agadir, Morocco.

Tremendous Eagles workforce information

Nigeria will miss the providers of stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong. The Watford defender hobbled off with an harm within the closing minutes of the Tremendous Eagles’ conflict with the Leone Stars.

Apart from Lorient midfielder Harmless Bonke, head coach Jose Peseiro has the total complement of invited stars and can look to unleash the very best towards the Patriot Crew.

Nigeria possible beginning lineup (4-4-2):
Uzoho; Aina, Balogun, Ajayi, Bassey; Iwobi, Aribo, Simon, Chukwueze; Osimhen, Sadiq

Sao Tome & Principe doable beginning lineup (4-4-2):
Braganca; Soares, Ivonaldo Viegas, Nilton, Nazare; Iniesta, Aldair, Eba Viegas, Edmilson Viegas; Rocha, Leal.

Prediction

Nothing is unimaginable in soccer however anticipating a win for São Tomé and Príncipe, the second-smallest and second-least populous African sovereign state after Seychelles, towards three-time Afcon champions Nigeria is asking for an excessive amount of.

Something wanting a dominant victory for the Tremendous Eagles could be a catastrophe.

Tip: Sai Tome & Principe 1 – 4 Nigeria