2022–23 Saudi Second Division

The 2022–23 Saudi Second Division was the 46th season of the Saudi Second Division since its establishment in 1976. The season began on 30 September 2022 and concluded on 30 April 2023 with the final. The group stage draw was held on 9 June 2022.[1] Fixtures for the 2022–23 season were announced on 25 August 2022.[2]

Saudi Second Division
Season2022–23
Dates30 September 2022 – 30 April 2023
ChampionsAl-Najma (3rd title)
PromotedAl-Najma
Al-Taraji
Al-Bukiryah
Al-Safa
Al-Jandal
RelegatedQilwah
Al-Sharq
Al-Nahda
Sajer
Matches played483
Goals scored1,153 (2.39 per match)
Top goalscorerAniekpeno Udo
(23 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Qous 5–0 Al-Lewaa
(16 December 2022)
Biggest away winAl-Sharq 0–6 Al-Washm
(17 December 2022)
Sajer 0–6 Al-Suqoor
(7 February 2023)
Highest scoringAl-Suqoor 2–5 Al-Najma
(3 December 2022)
Jerash 5–2 Tuwaiq
(26 February 2023)
Al-Taraji 4–3 Al-Jandal
(5 March 2023)
Longest winning runAl-Najma
(10 matches)
Longest unbeaten runAl-Safa
(18 matches)
Longest winless runAl-Sharq
(16 matches)
Longest losing runAl-Ansar
(7 matches)
All statistics correct as of 30 April 2023.

The final was played on 30 April 2023 between Al-Najma and Al-Taraji. Al-Najma defeated Al-Taraji 2–1 to win their third title and first since 2010.[3]

Overview edit

Changes edit

On 9 October 2020, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the league would be increased to 32, with each group consisting of 16 teams, starting from the 2022–23 season. To prepare for these changes it was announced that only 3 teams would be promoted to the MS League and 5 teams would be relegated from the MS League in the 2021–22 season.[4]

On 14 April 2022, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the Pro League would be increased from 16 to 18 teams. To prepare for this change, only 2 teams would be relegated to the First Division League and 4 teams would be promoted to the Pro League. This meant that 5 teams would be promoted from the Second Division to the First Division instead of the usual 3.[5]

Team changes edit

A total of 32 teams are contesting the league, including 21 sides from the 2020–21 season, 5 relegated teams from the FD League, and 6 promoted teams from the Third Division.[6]

The following teams have changed division since the 2021–22 season edit

To Second Division edit

Promoted from the Third Division

Relegated from FD League

From Second Division edit

Promoted to FD League

Relegated to the Third Division

Teams edit

Group A
Club Location Stadium
Al-Bukiryah Al Bukayriyah Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium
Al-Diriyah Diriyah Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Riyadh)
Al-Entesar Rabigh Al-Entesar Club Stadium
Al-Jandal Dumat al-Jandal Al-Orobah Club Stadium (Sakakah)
Al-Lewaa Baqaa Al-Jabalain Club Stadium (Ha'il)
Al-Nahda Dammam Prince Fahd bin Salman Stadium
Al-Qous Al Khurmah Al-Qous Club Stadium
Al-Sadd Najaan Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Al-Saqer Buraidah (Al-Basr) Al-Taawoun Club Stadium
Al-Taqadom Al Mithnab Al-Najma Club Stadium (Unaizah)
Al-Taraji Qatif Al-Khaleej Club Stadium
Arar Arar Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sport City Stadium
Hetten Samtah King Faisal Sport City Stadium (Jizan)
Jerash Ahad Rafidah Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Reserve Stadium (Abha)
Qilwah Qilwah Qilwah Club Stadium
Tuwaiq Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium
Group B
Club Location Stadium
Al-Ansar Medina Al-Ansar Club Stadium
Al-Jeel Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Kawkab Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium
Al-Nairyah Al Nairyah Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium
Al-Najma Unaizah Al-Najma Club Stadium
Al-Rawdhah Al-Hasa (Al-Jeshah) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Rayyan Haʼil Al-Jabalain Club Stadium
Al-Safa Safwa City Al-Safa Club Stadium
Al-Shaeib Huraymila Irqah Sports Stadium (Riyadh)
Al-Sharq Ad-Dilam Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj)
Al-Suqoor Tabuk King Khalid Sport City Stadium
Al-Washm Shaqra Al-Washm Club Stadium
Al-Zulfi Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium
Bisha Bisha Bisha University Stadium
Sajer Sajir Al-Washm Club Stadium (Shaqra)
Wej Ta'if King Fahd Stadium

Foreign players edit

The number of foreign players was increased from 3 players per team to 4 players per team.[7]

Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Former Players
Al-Ansar   Soumahoro Bangaly   Chevaughn Walsh   Chaker Rguiî   Sid Ahmed Aouadj
  Amar Djabou
Al-Bukiryah   Nemanja Kojčić   Izaldin Al Awad   Alaeddine Marzouki   Youssef Trabelsi   Bubacarr Sumareh
Al-Diriyah   Ferraz Kamel   Aboubacar Diarra   Oussema Ben Ayed   Mehdi Bensib   Bladimir Díaz
  Nassim Chachia
  Yassine Salhi
Al-Entesar   Ahmed Gagaâ   Maher Sharoma   Lawson Bekui   Karim El Oualadi   Konan Ahuie
  Houssem Bnina
  Amine Khalloufi
  Anis Khedher
Al-Jandal   Njiva Rakotoharimalala   Aniekpeno Udo   Rafik Mednini   Sabri Zaidi
Al-Jeel   Edilson   Bruno Matos   Gelson Mello   Modibo Maïga   Sidevaldo Pereira [ar]
  Alphonse Kouamé
  Mohamed Al Hasanat
  Hamza Goudali
Al-Kawkab   Jerome Mpacko-Etame   Olivier Kwizera   Pape Mamadou Sow   Ghazi Ayadi   Abdoul Razak Coulibaly
  Cyril Olisema
Al-Lewaa   Maycon Santana   Muath Afaneh   Imran Ilyas Bakur   Saith Sakala   Victory Omodiagbe
Al-Nahda   Ricardo Verza   Khalid Salah   Idrissa Traoré   Yassine Dahbi   Sid Ali Lakroum
  Guillaume Daho
  Kenneth Ikechukwu
Al-Nairyah   Zoubir Motrani   Fabrice Onana   Mohammad Al-Kloub   Achraf Ben Dhiaf   Ahmad Boussaid
  Omar Lamti
Al-Najma   Hichem Mokhtar   Rafa Miranda   Abdoulaye Dieng   Seifeddine Akremi
Al-Qous   Ahmad Hamdy   Johann Lengoualama   Jamaa Marzougi   Houssem Eddine Lahbibi   Ibrahim Eisa
  Pape Camara
Al-Rawdhah   Soufyan Ahannach   Israel Abia   Amine Mhadhebi   Selim Rebai   Didier Pepe
  Houssem Tabboubi
Al-Rayyan   Mohamed Abu Arqoub   Abdallah Berrabeh   Semah Bouhajeb   Alaeddine Sekrani   Junior Lokosa
Al-Sadd   Abdessamed Bounoua   Abdelhak Sailaa   Aneel Bkaki   Mohamed Salem   Akrem Demane
  Kaddour Beldjilali
Al-Safa   Adnane El Ouardy   Jilani Abdessalam   Mohamed Aouichi   Malek Miladi
Al-Saqer   Franco Romero   Alaa Anas   Lassina Diaby   Pape Babacar   Mame Balla Diop
  Abdou Samb
Al-Shaeib   Araújo   Jeferson   Stanley Ohawuchi   Ali Yahya   Jordan Nkololo
Al-Sharq   Oussama Aggar   Billel Bensaha   Sofiane Khelili   Harouna Samake   Mohamed Salem
  Wajdi Mejri
  Edem Rjaïbi
Al-Suqoor   Mohamed Benyahia   Adil Djabout   Hamed Touré   Mohamed M'Bareck   Mehdi Benaldjia
  Grace Tanda
Al-Taqadom   Mahmoud El Ghazaly   Benjamin Afutu   Bernard Arthur   Kwabena Nyanteh
Al-Taraji   Abdou Aziz Ndiaye   Mohammed Ben Abdessalem   Mahmoud Ben Salah   Houssine Messadi
Al-Washm   Amir Karaoui   Mohammed Alhaj   Yousef Omar   Alaeddine Bouslimi   Fody Traoré [ar]
  Stanley Ohawuchi
Al-Zulfi   Sid Ahmed Aouadj   Skander Ben Afia   Ahmad Boussaid   Fehmi Kacem   Emmanuel Banahene
  Amir Omrani
Arar   Guillaume Daho   Salaheddine Bahi   Khaled Gharsellaoui   Oussama Omrani   Adel Hmani
  Chiheb Jbeli
  Othman Saidi
Bisha   Samuel Nlend   Oscar Tahi   Pape Camara   Sabri Ameri   Tarik Kada
  Rabii Bouzid
Hetten   Carlos Coppetti   Patrick Ngoula   Kerfala Kouyaté   Mahmoud Al-Youssef   Raël Lolala
Jerash   Anderson Paraíba   Vanílson   Cheikh Saadné   Sami Hammami   Haythem Mhamdi
Qilwah   Blaise Ngoh   Charles Ikechukwu   Daniel Nosike   Maher Labidi   Harrison Cardoso
  Robert Odu
  Khaled Haj Othman
  Anis Khedher
Sajer   Cléber Prado   Ahmed Amri   Lassaad Jaziri   Nizar Touil   Riad Gharrich
  Wesley Simeão
  Valdo Bacabal
Tuwaiq   Anouar El Azizi   Chidiebere Nwakali   Wajdi Mejri   Omar Smari   Mohamed Said Karchoud
Wej   Islam Bouloudene   Akrem Demane   Chamseddine Harrag   Hazem Mbarek   Thales Lima
  Josue Mohy
  Patrick Gbala

Group A edit

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Taraji (P) 30 16 8 6 48 32 +16 56 Promotion to the First Division and qualification to the Final
2 Al-Bukiryah (P) 30 15 10 5 41 27 +14 55 Promotion to the First Division
3 Al-Jandal (P) 30 14 8 8 58 44 +14 50 Qualification for the promotion play-offs
4 Tuwaiq 30 14 7 9 43 36 +7 49
5 Al-Saqer 30 11 14 5 36 27 +9 47
6 Jerash 30 12 8 10 44 40 +4 44
7 Arar 30 11 9 10 35 31 +4 42
8 Al-Sadd 30 9 12 9 41 36 +5 39
9 Al-Entesar 30 10 8 12 32 38 −6 38[a]
10 Al-Diriyah 30 8 14 8 28 31 −3 38[a]
11 Al-Taqadom 30 8 11 11 29 36 −7 35
12 Hetten 30 7 11 12 32 39 −7 32[b]
13 Al-Lewaa 30 7 11 12 28 38 −10 32[b]
14 Al-Qous 30 8 8 14 28 37 −9 32[b]
15 Qilwah (R) 30 8 7 15 27 39 −12 31 Relegation to the Third Division
16 Al-Nahda (R) 30 5 8 17 25 44 −19 23
Updated to match(es) played on 7 April 2023. Source: saff.com.sa
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-Head points; 3) Head-to-Head goal difference; 4) Head-to-Head goals scored; 5) Total goal difference; 6) Total goals scored; 7) Play-off (only for deciding champion, promotion and relegation).[8]
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Al-Entesar finished ahead of Al-Diriyah on head-to-head points: Al-Entesar: 6 pts, Al-Diriyah: 0 pts (Al-Entesar 3–0 Al-Diriyah, Al-Diriyah 1–2 Al-Entesar).
  2. ^ a b c Positions determined by head-to-head points: Hetten: 7 pts and +1 GD; Al-Lewaa: 7 pts and –1 GD; Al-Qous: 3 pts.

Results edit

Home \ Away BUK DIR ENT JAN LEW NAH QOU SAD SAQ TAQ TAR ARA HET JER QIL TUW
Al-Bukiryah 1–0 2–2 1–2 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 3–2 2–1 1–0 4–1 0–0 1–1 2–1
Al-Diriyah 1–0 1–2 3–2 2–1 4–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–3 1–1 1–0 1–1
Al-Entesar 0–0 3–0 2–1 3–2 1–0 1–2 1–1 3–2 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–2
Al-Jandal 0–1 2–2 0–0 2–0 2–1 2–3 3–2 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 4–1 3–1 4–1 1–2
Al-Lewaa 0–0 2–2 3–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–1 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–2 0–3 2–2
Al-Nahda 0–3 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–0 0–2 1–2 1–0 0–0 2–3 0–1 0–3 3–1 2–0 0–2
Al-Qous 2–0 0–0 1–0 3–3 5–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 0–3 0–0 1–0 0–2
Al-Sadd 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–0 2–3 2–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–0
Al-Saqer 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–0 4–2 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–0
Al-Taqadom 1–1 2–0 3–0 1–2 0–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 1–3 0–0 3–2 1–1 3–2 2–1 0–2
Al-Taraji 0–1 1–1 0–2 4–3 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–1 1–2 3–1 1–0 1–0 3–2 5–1 1–2
Arar 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–2 3–1 0–0 2–1 3–0 0–0 0–1
Hetten 2–2 1–0 3–0 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–2 1–2 0–3 0–1 2–3
Jerash 1–3 2–0 0–1 3–3 0–0 3–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–0 3–1 1–0 5–2
Qilwah 0–1 0–0 3–2 2–4 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 1–2
Tuwaiq 1–1 1–1 2–1 3–2 3–0 0–0 2–0 3–3 0–0 0–2 2–3 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–1
Updated to match(es) played on 7 April 2023. Source: saff.com.sa
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Group B edit

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Najma (C, P) 30 19 7 4 46 22 +24 64 Promotion to the First Division and qualification to the Final
2 Al-Safa (P) 30 16 10 4 41 20 +21 58 Promotion to the First Division
3 Bisha 30 15 10 5 41 21 +20 55 Qualification for the promotion play-offs
4 Al-Kawkab 30 15 8 7 31 24 +7 53
5 Al-Nairyah 30 12 11 7 42 32 +10 47
6 Al-Zulfi 30 11 13 6 47 33 +14 46
7 Al-Rawdhah 30 10 14 6 43 29 +14 44
8 Al-Jeel 30 11 9 10 31 31 0 42
9 Wej 30 10 6 14 38 46 −8 36[a]
10 Al-Rayyan 30 9 9 12 32 35 −3 36[a]
11 Al-Ansar 30 7 10 13 32 46 −14 31
12 Al-Washm 30 6 12 12 37 40 −3 30
13 Al-Shaeib 30 7 7 16 27 46 −19 28
14 Al-Suqoor 30 5 12 13 34 46 −12 27
15 Al-Sharq (R) 30 5 11 14 26 46 −20 26 Relegation to the Third Division
16 Sajer (R) 30 3 9 18 21 52 −31 18
Updated to match(es) played on 8 April 2023. Source: saff.com.sa
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-Head points; 3) Head-to-Head goal difference; 4) Head-to-Head goals scored; 5) Total goal difference; 6) Total goals scored; 7) Play-off (only for deciding champion, promotion and relegation).[8]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Wej finished ahead of Al-Rayyan on head-to-head goal difference: Wej +1 GD, Al-Rayyan –1 GD (Wej 3–1 Al-Rayyan, Al-Rayyan 2–1 Wej).

Results edit

Home \ Away ANS JEL KAW NAI NAJ RAW RAY SAF SHA SHR SUQ WAS ZUL BIS SAJ WEJ
Al-Ansar 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–0 3–3 1–1 2–1 1–1 0–2 1–2 2–1
Al-Jeel 3–2 0–1 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–0
Al-Kawkab 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 3–2 2–1 1–0 1–2
Al-Nairyah 4–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–3 2–0 1–2 5–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 2–2 2–1 1–1 2–2
Al-Najma 4–0 3–2 1–1 2–1 1–3 2–1 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 3–1 3–2
Al-Rawdhah 2–2 0–1 2–0 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–1 2–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 4–0 2–0
Al-Rayyan 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–1 2–0 1–2 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–0 3–0 2–1
Al-Safa 2–1 4–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 3–0 3–0 0–1 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1
Al-Shaeib 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–3 1–0 0–2 1–0 0–0 3–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–3
Al-Sharq 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–2 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–3 1–1 0–6 0–3 0–0 1–2 0–0
Al-Suqoor 0–0 0–2 1–2 1–2 2–5 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–0 0–3 1–1 1–2 0–0 2–1
Al-Washm 1–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–1 3–3 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 0–3 2–0 2–2
Al-Zulfi 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–0 3–2 0–0 3–3 2–1 3–2 2–2 3–0 1–1 3–2 5–1
Bisha 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 3–1 0–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 3–0 1–0 2–1 2–1
Sajer 0–1 0–0 1–3 0–1 0–0 0–0 2–3 0–1 0–0 2–0 0–6 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2
Wej 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–3 1–2 0–1 3–1 1–2 1–0 0–3 3–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 3–1
Updated to match(es) played on 8 April 2023. Source: saff.com.sa
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Promotion play-offs edit

Both teams that finish third in Groups A and B will face each other in a two-legged match with the winner gaining promotion to the FD League. Al-Jandal, who finished third in Group A, faced Bisha, who finished third in Group B.[9] The first leg was played on 24 April and the second leg on 29 April.[10] Al-Jandal defeated Bisha 4–2 on aggregate to secure promotion to the FD League.[11]

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Al-Jandal 4–2 Bisha 2–1 2–1
First leg
Al-Jandal2–1Bisha
Udo   43'
Zaidi   90+1'
Report Nlend   19'
Referee: Abdulsamad Bakri
Second leg
Bisha1–2Al-Jandal
Tahi   40' Report Udo   30', 86'
Referee: Mohammed Al-Buraidi

Final edit

The winners of each group will play a single-legged final on 30 April to decide the champion of the 2022–23 Second Division. As winners of Group A, Al-Taraji will face Al-Najma, the winners of Group B. The match was held at Al-Najma's home stadium due to them finishing with more points.[12] Al-Najma defeated Al-Taraji 2–1 to win their third title and first since 2010.

Al-Najma2–1Al-Taraji
Miranda   50'
Mokhtar   54'
Report Ben Abdessalem   65'
Referee: Mamdouh Al Shahdan

Statistics edit

As of 30 April 2023