Preview: Sao Tome & Principe vs Equatorial Guinea - prediction, team news, lineups

Sao Tome and Principe and Equatorial Guinea continue their journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they go head-to-head at the Stade Municipal on Thursday.

While Sao Tome are one of just four nations yet to pick up any points in the qualifiers, the National Thunder have turned their fortunes around in the last three games and will continue their push for a top-two finish in Group H.

Match preview

It has been an abysmal qualifying campaign for Africa’s third-least ranked nation Sao Tome and Principe as they have suffered defeat in each of their six matches so far to sit rock-bottom in the Group H standings.

The Elephants’ poor outing has been in no small part down to their toothless display in attack, where they have netted just twice across the six matches while shipping 14 at the opposite end of the pitch — only Chad (1) have scored fewer goals so far.

One of Sao Tome’s two goals came in the 2-1 defeat against Liberia on March 24, when Dola struck in the 44th minute to pull one back for the visitors after Nicholas Andrews and Jimmy Farkarlun put the Lone Stars two goals up.

With the result against Liberia last time out, Ricardo Monsanto’s men have gone 26 consecutive matches without a win across all competitions and have lost each of their most recent nine games in the World Cup qualifiers since scraping a 1-0 victory over Ethiopia in October 2015.

Sao Tome, who are 193rd in the latest FIFA World Rankings, now go up against an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in three of their previous four meetings, losing twice and claiming one draw since June 1981.

Having picked up just three points from the opening three games, a run of two wins and one draw from their subsequent three games has rekindled Equatorial Guinea’s quest for a first-ever World Cup appearance.

The National Thunder suffered defeats against Namibia and Tunisia on either side of a 1-0 victory over 10-man Liberia on November 20 before picking up consecutive victories over Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe, seeing off Malawi 1-0 at home in June 2024 before beating Sao Tome 2-0 in their first outing of 2025.

However, Equatorial Guinea were denied a third win on the bounce three days later as they played out a 1-1 draw with Namibia on March 24, when Peter Shalulile and Carlos Akapo scored for either side to force a share of the spoils.

Unlike Sao Tome, Juan Micha’s men have been involved in two friendly outings since March’s qualifiers, losing 2-1 at the hands of Gambia on June 6, three days before playing out a 1-1 stalemate with Cameroon at the Stade de Marrakech.

Equatorial Guinea have picked up seven points from a possible 18 so far to sit fourth in the Group H standings, five points adrift of second-placed Namibia in the playoff spot heading into the final four matches.

Sao Tome & Principe World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

Sao Tome & Principe form (all competitions):

Equatorial Guinea World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

Equatorial Guinea form (all competitions):

Team News

Dola turned in an eye-catching display against Liberia last time out and the 25-year-old should team up with Pacos de Ferreira man Ronaldo Afonso and veteran striker Mauro Vilhete, who boasts 17 senior caps under his belt.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Portuguese-based defender Adjakson Ramos should form the Sao Tome centre-back pairing with 24-year-old Gilberto d'Almeida, shielding Pedro Mateus between the sticks.

As for Equatorial Guinea, Micha has called up a solid 25-man squad for September’s qualifiers against Sao Tome and Tunisia, including goalkeeper Jesus Owono, veteran defender Carlos Akapo and Mallorca midfielder Omar Mascarell.

With 22 goals in 47 appearances, skipper Emilio Nsue has been an efficient marksman for the National Thunder and we expect the 35-year-old, who is the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer, to spearhead the attack once again.

Nsue teamed up with Jannick Buyla and 29-year-old Iban Salvador in attack against Namibia in March’s qualifiers and should retain their roles in the front three, while Basilio Ndong, Saul Coco and Esteban Obiang and Akapo form the centre-back pairing once again.

Sao Tome & Principe possible starting lineup:

Mateus; Fernandes, Ramos, Almeida, Pequeno; Braganca, Male, Neves; Dola, Vilhete, Afonso

Equatorial Guinea possible starting lineup:

Owono; Ndong, Coco, Obiang, Akapo; Mascarell, Ganet, Eneme; Buyla, Nsue, Salvador

We say: Sao Tome & Principe 0-2 Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea will be licking their lips as they take on a Sao Tome side who have struggled to find their feet in the qualifiers. Micha’s men boast a superior and more experienced squad on paper, and we expect this to prove decisive at the Stade Municipal.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.