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

Changes

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

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]

To Second Division

Promoted from the Third Division

Relegated from FD League

From Second Division

Promoted to FD League

Relegated to the Third Division

Teams
Group A
Locations of teams in the 2022–23 Saudi Second Division 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
Locations of teams in the 2022–23 Saudi Second Division 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 Shaqraa Al-Washm Club Stadium
Al-Zulfi Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium
Bisha Bisha Bisha University Stadium
Sajer Sajir Al-Washm Club Stadium (Shaqraa)
Wej Ta'if King Fahd Stadium

Foreign players

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

Group A

League table
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[lower-alpha 1]
10 Al-Diriyah 30 8 14 8 28 31 −3 38[lower-alpha 1]
11 Al-Taqadom 30 8 11 11 29 36 −7 35
12 Hetten 30 7 11 12 32 39 −7 32[lower-alpha 2]
13 Al-Lewaa 30 7 11 12 28 38 −10 32[lower-alpha 2]
14 Al-Qous 30 8 8 14 28 37 −9 32[lower-alpha 2]
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. 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. 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
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

League table
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[lower-alpha 1]
10 Al-Rayyan 30 9 9 12 32 35 −3 36[lower-alpha 1]
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. 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
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

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'
Bisha University Stadium, Bisha
Referee: Mohammed Al-Buraidi

Final

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
As of 30 April 2023
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