Sao Tome ‘not going to be intimidated’ by Tunisia in Friday’s match

The Hamadi Al-Agrebi Stadium in Rades, Tunis, is all set for the World Cup qualifier match between Tunisia and São Tomé and Príncipe in Group H. After facing recent defeats, both teams are eager to get back to winning.

Luis Leal from São Tomé, who has not scored since March, is expected to lead the attack, while Joazhifel Soares will earn his 34th cap for the team. Manager Adriano Eusebio acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “We have a very young team. We know it will be a difficult game, but we believe we have a chance.”

Despite being ranked 154 places higher in the FIFA rankings, the Eagles of Carthage are determined to secure a victory on their home turf, where they have been unbeaten for over two years. However, São Tomé’s players remain confident and are not intimidated. “It’s a new competition, and we believe in ourselves. Tunisia is a strong team, but in football, anything can happen in 90 minutes,” said one of the players.

The Group H qualifiers also include Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Malawi, and Liberia, while São Tomé recently wrapped up their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 6-0 loss to Nigeria. The tiny nation is currently ranked 184th in the world and has only recorded victories over Mauritius, Libya, and Ethiopia in the past decade.

As the match approaches, both teams are ready to give it their all, hoping to make a strong statement in their campaign.