2022–23 Saudi First Division League

The 2022–23 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) is the 2nd season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 46th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 22 August 2022 and will conclude in May 2023.[1]

First Division League
Season2022–23
Dates22 August 2022 – May 2023
Matches played239
Goals scored552 (2.31 per match)
Top goalscorerAblaye Mbengue
(24 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Shoulla 3–0 Al-Orobah
(22 August 2022)
Al-Hazem 4–1 Najran
(5 September 2022)
Al-Ahli 3–0 Ohod
(16 September 2022)
Al-Hazem 3–0 Al-Arabi
(11 January 2023)
Al-Ahli 3–0 Al-Jabalain
(24 January 2023)
Biggest away winAl-Shoulla 0–5 Al-Jabalain
(28 December 2022)
Highest scoringAl-Riyadh 3–3 Al-Arabi
(6 March 2023)
Longest winning runAl-Riyadh
(8 matches)
Longest unbeaten runAl-Ahli
(16 matches)
Longest winless runAl-Shoulla
(25 matches)
Longest losing runAl-Shoulla
(8 matches)
2023–24
All statistics correct as of 7 April 2023.

Overview

Changes

On 9 October 2020, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the league would be decreased to 18 starting from the 2022–23 season. Due to this decision, 5 teams were relegated last season instead of the usual 4 teams. In addition, only 3 teams were promoted from the Second Division instead of 4 teams.[2]

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.[3]

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2022–23 season.

Teams

A total of 18 teams are contesting the league, including 12 sides from the 2021–22 season, the three promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Pro League.

The first club to be relegated to the First Division League was Al-Hazem following a 5–2 defeat away to Al-Ettifaq on 21 May.[4] Al-Hazem were relegated after just one year in the top flight. This was their second relegation in three years. Both Al-Ahli and Al-Faisaly were relegated following on the final day of the season. Al-Ahli were relegated following a 0–0 away draw with Al-Shabab.[5] Al-Ahli were relegated for the first time in their history while Al-Faisaly were relegated after 12 consecutive seasons in the top flight.

The first club to be promoted was Al-Arabi who were promoted following a 1–0 home win against Al-Rawdhah on 30 March 2022.[6] On 31 March 2022, Al-Qaisumah became the second side to be promoted following a 2–1 win over Al-Nairyah.[7] The third and final club to be promoted was Al-Riyadh, who were promoted following a 3–2 aggregate win over Al-Taraji in the promotion play-offs.[8]

Al-Arabi were crowned champions after defeating Al-Qaisumah 1–0 to win their second title and first since 1986.[9]

Al-Arabi return to the First Division League after an absence of 27 years. They return to the league for the first time since the 1994–95 season and will play in their 9th overall season. Al-Qaisumah return after an absence of three seasons and will play in their 4th overall season in the First Division League. Al-Riyadh return after an absence of six seasons and will play in their 18th overall season in the First Division League.

Stadia and locations

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-Ahli Jeddah Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium 27,000
Al-Ain Al Bahah King Saud Sport City Stadium 10,000[10]
Al-Arabi Unaizah Department of Education Stadium 10,000[11]
Al-Faisaly Harmah Al Majma'ah Sports City (Al Majma'ah) 7,000
Al-Hazem Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium 8,000[12]
Al-Jabalain Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000[13]
Al-Kholood Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium 8,000[12]
Al-Okhdood Najran Prince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium
Najran University Stadium
12,000[14]
10,000[15]
Al-Orobah Sakakah Al-Orobah Club Stadium 6,000[16]
Al-Qadsiah Khobar Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium 15,000[17]
Al-Qaisumah Hafar al-Batin Al-Batin Club Stadium 6,000[18]
Al-Riyadh Riyadh Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 15,000[19]
Al-Sahel Anak Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar) 15,000[17]
Al-Shoulla Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200
Hajer Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Hajer Club Stadium 12,000[20]
Jeddah Jeddah Reserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City 1,000
Najran Najran Prince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium
Najran University Stadium
12,000[14]
10,000[15]
Ohod Medina Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 24,000[21]

Foreign players

On 15 April 2022, the Saudi FF announced that the number of foreign players was increased from 5 players to 6 players.[22]

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

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Former Players
Al-Ahli Algeria Ryad Boudebouz Angola Bastos Brazil Marcão The Gambia Modou Barrow Netherlands Hicham Faik Uruguay Nicolás Milesi Cameroon Franck Kom
England Lewis Grabban
Tunisia Youssef Abdelli
Al-Ain Algeria Hicham Belkaroui Algeria Ibrahim Chenihi Algeria Lahouari Touil Jordan Abdallah Al-Fakhouri Jordan Majdi Attar Jordan Mohannad Khairullah Nigeria Okiemute Odah
Syria Thaer Krouma
Tunisia Alaeddine Marzouki
Al-Arabi Brazil Sandro Manoel Brazil Wellington Ivory Coast Cheick Comara Morocco Mohammed El Fakih Senegal Ablaye Mbengue Senegal Birama Ndoye Netherlands Soufyan Ahannach
Al-Faisaly Argentina Mariano Vázquez Bosnia and Herzegovina Marin Jurina Brazil Rossi Brazil Cassiano Croatia Josip Vuković Morocco Omar Arjoune Brazil Ismael
Morocco Reda Hajhouj
Al-Hazem Brazil Paulo Ricardo Cameroon Joel Tagueu Egypt Youssef Obama Ghana Francis Cann Ivory Coast Ben Traoré Netherlands Ola John Brazil Uilliam
Morocco Abdelilah Hafidi
Morocco Naoufel Zerhouni
Niger Yousef Omar
Serbia Luka Stojanović
Al-Jabalain Algeria Rédha Bensayah Brazil Isael Brazil Lázaro Brazil Nailson Colombia Anderson Plata Jordan Yazid Abu Layla Algeria Malik Raiah
Brazil Carlão
Brazil
Al-Kholood Brazil Roberto Dias Brazil Jobson Brazil Uilliam Iraq Jiloan Hamad Iraq Ahmed Yasin Tunisia Khemais Maaouani Algeria Malik Asselah
Brazil Jhonnattann
Cameroon Alain Akono
Rwanda Muhadjiri Hakizimana
Al-Okhdood Brazil Kaká Mendes Brazil Maicon Douglas Brazil Reinaldo Dutra Guinea Ousmane Barry Portugal Vladimir Stojković Tunisia Borhen Hkimi
Al-Orobah Brazil Tiago Bezerra Brazil Rayllan Bruno Brazil Philipe Maia Brazil Diego Silva Lebanon Mostafa Matar Montenegro Milan Vušurović
Al-Qadsiah Algeria Karim Aribi Algeria Raïs M'Bolhi Burundi Cédric Amissi Democratic Republic of the Congo Walter Bwalya Ivory Coast Soualio Ouattara Tanzania Saimon Msuva Brazil Bruno Bispo
Madagascar Ibrahim Amada
Niger Amadou Moutari
Al-Qaisumah Algeria Achraf Boudrama Algeria Hamid Djaouchi Algeria Khaled Nèche Burkina Faso Souleymane Sakandé Nigeria Odeni George Syria Ward Al Salama
Al-Riyadh Brazil Marcinho Brazil Diego Miranda Brazil Muralha Portugal Emanuel Novo Serbia Miodrag Gemović Serbia Nikola Stojiljković Belgium Jens Cools
Al-Sahel Brazil Rafael Martins Gabon Medwin Biteghé Ivory Coast Ibrahim Diomandé Morocco Zakaria Lahlali Portugal Ricardo Machado Tunisia Mourad Hedhli Ghana Lawson Bekui
Al-Shoulla Algeria Sofiane Khedairia Brazil Carlos Henrique Democratic Republic of the Congo David Molinga Guinea-Bissau Piqueti Ivory Coast Sylla Daouda Morocco Taoufik Ijrouten Algeria Zoubir Motrani
Bosnia and Herzegovina Mirzad Mehanović
Hajer Brazil Fabrício Brazil Adriano Pardal Brazil Tiago Real Cameroon Clarence Bitang Democratic Republic of the Congo Jean-Marc Mundele Morocco Reda Hajhouj Brazil William Henrique
Mali Modibo Maïga
Senegal Souleymane Cissé
Jeddah Brazil Bruno Grassi Chad Othman Maloum Egypt Mohammad Fouad England Gozie Ugwu The Gambia Lamin Samateh Netherlands Johnatan Opoku
Najran Brazil Jhonnattann Cameroon Alain Akono Guinea Mikael Dyrestam Madagascar Carolus Andria Mali Alassane Diarra Panama Cristian Martínez Brazil Coutinho
Brazil Vitor
Cameroon Donald Molls
Ghana Kwame Opoku
Ivory Coast Soualio Ouattara
Ohod Argentina Emilio Zelaya Germany Reagy Ofosu Morocco Badr Boulahroud Netherlands Youssef El Jebli Romania Alexandru Răuță Zimbabwe Gerald Takwara Algeria Adil Djabout
Liberia Jamal Arago
Morocco Houssam Amaanan
Senegal Babacar Guèye

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Al-Ahli 26 16 7 3 37 18 +19 55 Promotion to the Pro League
2 Al-Hazem 26 16 6 4 47 22 +25 54
3 Al-Okhdood 26 16 5 5 45 23 +22 53
4 Al-Riyadh 27 16 4 7 43 30 +13 52
5 Al-Arabi 27 11 9 7 36 33 +3 42
6 Al-Faisaly 25 11 7 7 29 24 +5 40
7 Al-Kholood 27 10 7 10 27 22 +5 37
8 Hajer 27 9 8 10 31 34 3 35
9 Al-Orobah 27 9 7 11 30 31 1 34[lower-alpha 1]
10 Al-Jabalain 27 8 9 10 38 39 1 33
11 Ohod 26 7 12 7 23 27 4 33
12 Al-Ain 27 9 6 12 29 35 6 33
13 Al-Qaisumah 27 6 13 8 27 35 8 31
14 Jeddah 27 8 6 13 25 30 5 30
15 Al-Qadsiah 27 6 9 12 20 29 9 27
16 Najran 26 6 7 13 25 42 17 25 Relegation to the Second Division
17 Al-Sahel 26 4 10 12 24 36 12 22
18 Al-Shoulla 27 2 6 19 16 42 26 12[lower-alpha 1]
Updated to match(es) played on 7 April 2023. Source: goalzz.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Fair-play points (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[24]
Notes:
  1. Al-Shoulla were awarded a 3–0 win over Al-Orobah due to Al-Orobah's inability to hold the fixture.[23]

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
Al-Ahli815111277435579566641322221221
Al-Ain181717181818161717171717161614151313141411141414141412
Al-Arabi776455654444334566666555555
Al-Faisaly443332111112111115455666666
Al-Hazem552223343323442232211112112
Al-Jabalain9139644598810111210799101312121312108810
Al-Kholood1258911910129913101111111087108977777
Al-Okhdood311111222231223323144433343
Al-Orobah171812131415131511128129910101191113141010911109
Al-Qadsiah161416171616171615161310131313131415151515151515151515
Al-Qaisumah13879668876666788812121113111313121113
Al-Riyadh15161814121210121414128755454533344434
Al-Sahel12610111187710111415151516171716161616161616171717
Al-Shoulla23451010141316151616171718181818181818181818181818
Hajer61115161514121491011711121212121410997911998
Jeddah141287891166755889777877888101214
Najran11914151717181818181818181817161617171717171717161616
Ohod1010131013131511131315141414151415119810121112131311
Leader
Promotion to the Pro League
Relegation to the Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 5 April 2023. Source:

Results

Home \ Away AHL AIN ARB FSY HAZ JAB KHO OKH ORO QAD QAI RIY SAH SHO HJR JED NAJ OHD
Al-Ahli 1–0 3–0 1–0 1–4 1–0 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–0 2–1 3–0
Al-Ain 0–0 2–0 0–1 0–3 1–2 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–2 3–2 1–2 2–1 0–0 4–1
Al-Arabi 0–0 2–2 0–2 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–0 2–2 0–0 2–1 0–2
Al-Faisaly 1–2 2–3 3–2 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 2–0
Al-Hazem 2–0 3–0 2–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 4–1 2–1
Al-Jabalain 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–3 2–1 3–1 1–4 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–0
Al-Kholood 1–2 1–2 1–2 0–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–2 2–0 1–0 0–1 0–0
Al-Okhdood 2–0 3–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 2–1 3–2
Al-Orobah 0–0 2–1 1–3 0–1 0–2 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–0 1–0 0–0
Al-Qadsiah 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–3 1–2 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–2
Al-Qaisumah 0–2 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–4 0–0 1–0 2–2 2–1 2–0
Al-Riyadh 0–2 3–0 3–3 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 3–2 2–1
Al-Sahel 2–1 0–1 1–1 2–3 0–0 0–3 0–2 1–2 1–2 1–3 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–1
Al-Shoulla 0–0 0–5 0–1 1–2 3–0[25] 0–2 0–1 0–3 0–1 1–2 1–2 1–3 1–2
Hajer 1–2 1–1 1–0 3–2 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–1
Jeddah 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–0
Najran 0–2 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–3 1–3 0–4 2–1 1–1 1–2 3–2 1–1 0–2
Ohod 0–2 1–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 7 April 2023. Source: goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics

As of 7 April 2023
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