CAN 2027: São Tomé Eliminated in the Preliminary Round
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2027) has started badly for the São Tomé and Príncipe national team, which failed to qualify for the group stage after being eliminated today by Ethiopia in the preliminary qualifying round.
After losing the first leg 3-0 in Morocco — a venue chosen as a neutral ground due to the unavailability of São Tomé's national stadium — the team was defeated again in the decisive match, 1-0, a result that confirmed their elimination from the continental competition.
The only goal of the second match was scored by Chernet Gugsa just seven minutes into the game, securing Ethiopia's passage to the next stage of the African qualifiers.
With this result, São Tomé and Príncipe once again failed to qualify for the main African national team competition, an objective that continues to elude the archipelago since the creation of the national team.
Ethiopian Superiority
The qualifying match for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations against Ethiopia was seen as an important opportunity for the São Tomé and Príncipe national team to try and take a historic step in African football. The team entered the preliminary phase — a stage reserved for the lower-ranked teams in the... ranking African — but the first game heavily conditioned aspirations.
The 3-0 defeat left the team in a very difficult situation before the decisive match. In the second game, Ethiopia once again demonstrated its superiority. Chernet Gugsa's early goal decided the tie in the first few minutes. Unable to recover from the accumulated deficit, São Tomé and Príncipe confirmed their elimination.
The result once again highlights the structural difficulties of São Toméan football. The national team has historically faced obstacles related to infrastructural, financial and competitive limitations.
One of the recurring problems is the unavailability of stadiums certified for international matches, a situation that forces the team to play some games outside the country, reducing the advantage of playing at home.
The elimination in the preliminary phase of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations prolongs São Tomé and Príncipe's absence from the main African competition. However, despite the adversities, football continues to occupy a central place in the archipelago's sporting landscape, being seen as a platform for talent development and for the country's international projection.
In a context where African football is becoming increasingly demanding and professionalized, the challenge now lies in strengthening internal structures, improving infrastructure, and consolidating player development—an essential investment to transform future qualifying campaigns into real opportunities to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations.
On the road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The preliminary phase of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations involves the lowest-ranked African teams in the... ranking According to FIFA, only six teams advance from this initial stage to the qualifying group stage, where they join the other teams from the continent.
In total, 48 teams are competing in the African qualifying rounds, which will determine the 24 teams that will participate in the final stage of the tournament.
The 2027 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by three East African countries:
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
The tournament is scheduled to take place between June 19 and July 18, 2027, bringing together the best teams from the African continent.
Conclusion
The elimination of São Tomé and Príncipe in the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations confirms the difficulties the national team has faced in competing at the highest level of African football. The prolonged absence from the main continental competition continues to reflect the country's structural limitations, ranging from sports infrastructure to conditions for international preparation and competitiveness.
Nevertheless, participation in the qualifiers remains a necessary step for the team's growth and for the affirmation of São Toméan football. The challenge lies in transforming the lessons learned into sustained investment in the development of national football, creating conditions so that, in the future, São Tomé and Príncipe can compete for access to the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) under more balanced circumstances.
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Picture: © 2026 Ethiopian Football Federation
