AFCON 2023 Qualifier: Sao Tome & Príncipe to parade all foreign-based stars against Eagles

The Super Eagles will today commence their preparations for the final group game of the qualifier in Uyo.
The three-time African champions will face Sao Tome and Principe in the final qualifying game of the 2023 African Cup of Nations on Sunday, September 10.

The team head coach, Jose Peseiro, released the list of the invited players for the game on the weekend after he agreed a new contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). His list comprised three new invitees, Gift Orban, Victor Boniface and Tournariga.

According to the latest update, the team camp will open today in Uyo, and all the invited players are expected to be available for the preparation.
Super Eagles have cemented their place in the competition after garnering 12 points from five games, while Sao Tome has no chance of qualifying for the tournament.

Meanwhile, Sao Tome & Príncipe is set to present first-ever all foreign-based players in quest for first win in AFCON 2023 qualifier match in Uyo, on Sunday.

According to Sportsvillagesquare.com, clubs in Sao Tome & Príncipe are protesting the exclusion of their players as the national team coach, Adriano Eusebio, presents for the first time-ever, an all foreign-based players for the tie.
The country is attempting to save face after a string of four loses and a draw in preceding five qualifying matches of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Because all 22 players listed for the Nigerian challenge are based outside the country, local clubs reacted with astonishment, remembering that this is the first time in the history of their football, no player who plays in domestic championships is on the guest list.

Adriano Eusébio told local outlet, Tela Non that the absence of the “nationals” (players who play in the main national competitions) was because the call-up is a preview for the next qualifying games.
For the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Sao Tome & Príncipe are in Group H along with Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Malawi and Liberia.

“This call is already thinking about the World Cup qualifying games that start in November, we have to take into account that, at this time, we will not have championships in the country and the players will be in vacation mode”.
Eusébio added that, with the growing wave of emigration, the team lost the base core that was made up of players who played in the main national championships, so, in the need to build a team of continuity and that provides guarantees, it turned 100 percent to the diaspora.

It should be noted that Sunday’s game in Uyo is the second ever between the two countries. In the first match played last year in Morocco, Nigeria won 10-0, the biggest win that the national team has recorded in 74 years.