The 2022–23 Saudi Second Division was the 46th season of the
Saudi Second Division
The Saudi Second Division , also known as the Second Division League (SDL), is a football league that is the third tier of the Saudi Arabian football league system. The league consists of 32 teams divided into two groups and was founded in 1996. ...
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. Fixtures for the 2022–23 season were announced on 25 August 2022.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The following teams have changed division since the 2021–22 season
To Second Division
Promoted from the
Third Division
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Al-Suqoor
*
Al-Qous
*
Jerash
Jerash ( ar, جرش ''Ǧaraš''; grc, Γέρασα ''Gérasa'') is a city in northern Jordan. The city is the administrative center of the Jerash Governorate, and has a population of 50,745 as of 2015. It is located north of the capital city ...
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Sajer
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Qilwah
*
Al-Shaeib
Relegated from
FD League
*
Al-Jeel
Al-Jeel Club () is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Hofuf, Al-Hasa. Founded in 1976, the club competes in the MS League , the second tier of Saudi football. Al-Jeel play their home games at the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium in Al-H ...
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Al-Diriyah
*
Al-Nahda
The Nahda ( ar, النهضة, translit=an-nahḍa, meaning "the Awakening"), also referred to as the Arab Awakening or Enlightenment, was a cultural movement that flourished in Arabic-speaking regions of the Ottoman Empire, notably in Egypt, Leb ...
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Al-Kawkab
*
Bisha
Bisha ( ar, بيشة, '), also known as Qal`at Bishah ( ar, قلعة بيشة, '), is a town in the south-western Saudi Arabian province, 'Asir. Bisha was its own province before merging with its neighboring province, 'Asir. Bisha has a popula ...
From Second Division
Promoted to
FD League
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Al-Arabi
*
Al-Qaisumah
*
Al-Riyadh
Al-Riyadh Saudi Club () is a football team based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that is currently playing in the Saudi Second Division (third level). It was established in 1953 as Ahli Al-Riyadh, then changed to Al-Yamamah and finally to Al-Riyad ...
Relegated to the
Third Division
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Al-Dahab
*
Afif
Afif ( ar, عفيف ) is a city in central Saudi Arabia, in the Najd region. It is situated approximately halfway between Riyadh and Mecca. The modern town was established in the 1910s as a ''hijra'', or "settlement", for the nomadic tribes of t ...
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Al-Nojoom
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Al-Thoqbah
Teams
;Group A
;Group B
Foreign players
The number of foreign players was increased from 3 players per team to 4 players per team.
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
Group A
League table
Results
Group B
League table
Results
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
Bisha ( ar, بيشة, '), also known as Qal`at Bishah ( ar, قلعة بيشة, '), is a town in the south-western Saudi Arabian province, 'Asir. Bisha was its own province before merging with its neighboring province, 'Asir. Bisha has a popula ...
, who finished third in Group B. The first leg was played on 24 April and the second leg on 29 April. Al-Jandal defeated Bisha 4–2 on aggregate to secure promotion to the FD League.
;First leg
;Second leg
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.
Al-Najma defeated Al-Taraji 2–1 to win their third title and first since 2010.
Statistics
Scoring
Top scorers
Hat-tricks
;Note
(H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 Player scored 4 goals
Number of teams by province
See also
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2022–23 Saudi Professional League
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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 s ...
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2022–23 Saudi Third Division
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2022-23 Saudi Second Division
3
Saudi Second Division seasons