Football in São Tomé and Príncipe

The association administers the national football team, as well as the São Tomé and Príncipe Championship.

[1] Football (soccer) was brought around the beginning of the 20th century during Portuguese rule, later in the 1930s, it held its first provincial championship and continued up to 1974, before the nation became independent.

Since 1977, the São Toméan Football Federation has been organizing the national championships, Campeonato Santomense de Futebol.

In various individual years the championship was suspended, as a result of politically unstable situations in the country or financial distress of the association.

The Taça Nacional de São Tomé e Príncipe is first held on the two main islands.

The São Tomé and Príncipe national team has been one of the weakest in Africa and, having been inactive between 2003 and 2011, was at one point no longer included in the FIFA World Rankings.

The São Tomé and Príncipe Championship is the country's top competition, with Sporting Praia Cruz and Vitória FC (Riboque) its most successful clubs.

[3] The São Tomé football national team of women has not yet qualified for any international competition.