The 2021–22 Saudi Second Division was the first season of the Saudi Second Division League after its rebrand, and the 46th season since its establishment in 1976. The season began on 29 September 2021 and concluded on 20 April 2022 with the final. The group stage draw was held on 8 June 2021.
The season was originally scheduled to conclude on 16 April with the final. However, it was announced that both the final and third-place play-off would be postponed due to an ongoing investigation into match-fixing allegations. The investigation was concluded on 12 April with no evidence of any match-fixing and the new date for the final was announced as 20 April.
The final was played on 20 April 2022 between Al-Arabi and Al-Qaisumah. Al-Arabi defeated Al-Qaisumah 1–0 to win their second title and first since 1986.
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.
Rebrand On 29 September 2021, the newly appointed executive director of the SDL, Abdulmohsen Al-Duhaimi, announced a rebrand; beginning with the 2021–22 season, the competition would be known as the Second Division League (SDL). As part of the rebranding, a new logo was introduced.
Team changes A total of 28 teams are contesting the league, including 20 sides from the 2020–21 season, 4 relegated teams from the MS League, and 4 promoted teams from the 2020–21 Third Division.
The following teams have changed division since the 2020–21 season
To Second Division
Promoted from the Third Division
Al-Saqer Al-Nairyah Al-Rayyan Tuwaiq
Relegated from MS League Al-Bukiryah Al-Thoqbah Arar Al-Nojoom
From Second Division Promoted to MS League Al-Akhdoud Al-Orobah Al-Kholood Bisha
Relegated to the Third Division Al-Hejaz Al-Mujazzal Al-Selmiyah Kumait
Teams ;Group A
Club Location Stadium Al-Arabi Unaizah Al-Najma Club Stadium Al-Bukiryah Al Bukayriyah Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium Al-Dahab Mahd adh Dhahab Ohod Club Stadium (Medina) Al-Entesar Rabigh Al-Entesar Club Stadium Al-Lewaa Baqaa Al-Jabalain Club Stadium (Ha'il) Al-Nojoom Al-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium Al-Rawdhah Al-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium Al-Riyadh Riyadh Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium Al-Sadd Najaan Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj) Al-Saqer Buraidah Al-Taawoun Club Stadium Al-Sharq Ad-Dilam Al-Shoulla Club Stadium (Al-Kharj) Al-Washm Shaqra Al-Washm Club Stadium Tuwaiq Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium Wej Ta'if King Fahd Stadium
Group B
Club Location Stadium Afif Afif Al-Dera'a Club Stadium (Dawadmi) Al-Ansar Medina Al-Ansar Club Stadium Al-Jandal Dumat al-Jandal Al-Orobah Club Stadium (Sakakah) Al-Nairyah Al Nairyah Al-Ettifaq Club Stadium Al-Najma Unaizah Al-Najma Club Stadium Al-Qaisumah Hafar al-Batin Al-Qaisumah Club Stadium Al-Rayyan Haʼil Al-Jabalain Club Stadium Al-Safa Safwa City Al-Safa Club Stadium Al-Taqadom Al Mithnab Al-Najma Club Stadium (Unaizah) Al-Taraji Qatif Al-Khaleej Club Stadium Al-Thoqbah Khobar Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium Al-Zulfi Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium Arar Arar Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sport City Stadium Hetten Samtah King Faisal Sport City Stadium (Jizan)
Foreign players The number of foreign players was increased from 2 players per team to 3 players per team.
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Former Players Afif Mohamed Ajid Albashir Sidi Abdulhadi Adamw Al-Ansar Emmanuel Banahene Alseny Soumah Ablaye Sy Al-Arabi José Anderson Cheibane Traoré Amir Omrani Al-Bukiryah Oussou Konan Chaker Rguiî Zied Ounalli Al-Dahab Amara Bagayoko Halim Darragi Kouni Khalfa Al-Entesar Patrick Ngoula Gnamien Gislain Yikpe Maher Sharoma Al-Jandal Guillaume Daho Youssef Fouzai Sabri Zaidi Al-Lewaa Sedjro Counou Mohamed Soudani Daniel Noseki Amadou Samaké Al-Nairyah Hamza Hadda Hamza Letifi Bilel Touati Al-Najma Rabii Bouzid Adel Hmani Othman Saidi Al-Nojoom Lassina Diaby Mahmoud Shawkat Nader Sahal Al-Qaisumah Mohammed Al-Dhaw Seifeddine Jerbi Al-Rawdhah Mohamed Taib Israel Abia Bilel Mohsni Al-Rayyan Charles Oliveira Mouhamadou N'Diaye Abdallah Berrabeh Al-Riyadh Elhadji Malick Mohamed Aouichi Mahmoud Ben Salah Al-Sadd Pingo Mohamed Amine Khaloui Oussama Omrani Al-Safa Ibourahima Sidibé Moussa Coulibaly Sidi Touda Al-Saqer Cheikh Saadné Abdullahi Yatma Mame Balla Diop Al-Sharq Aneel Bkaki Godfred Asante Christian Pyagbara Al-Taqadom Bekaye Wade Mohamed M'Bareck Adamou Moussa Al-Taraji Ahmad Boussaid Mehdi Bensib Mohammed Ali Ben Abdessalem Al-Thoqbah Ernest Anang Khaled Al-Naasan Oussema Amdouni Al-Washm Guilherme Café Lekão Mateus Totô Danilo Mariotto Peninha Mohammed Alhaj Al-Zulfi Paulo Cézar Skander Ben Afia Youssef Trabelsi Arar Kaká Vanílson Lamine N'dao Hetten Douglas Lima Murilo Souza Ricardo Verza Tuwaiq Bernard Arthur Chidiebere Nwakali Bahaeddine Othman Wej Achraf Ben Dhiaf Khaled Gharsellaoui Slim Mezlini
Group A League table
Results
Group B League table
Results
Third place play-off Both teams that finish second in Groups A and B will face each other in a two-legged match with the winner gaining promotion to the FD League. The first leg was originally scheduled to be held on 8 April and the second leg on 14 April, however, it was both matches were postponed following an investigation into match-fixing allegations. Al-Riyadh, who finished second in Group A, faced Al-Taraji, who finished second in Group B. The first leg was played on 15 April and the second leg on 20 April. Al-Riyadh defeated Al-Taraji 3–2 on aggregate to earn promotion to the Saudi First Division League.
First leg
Second leg
Final The winners of each group will play a single-legged final on 20 April to decide the champion of the 2021–22 Second Division. As winners of Group A, Al-Arabi faced Al-Qaisumah, the winners of Group B. The match was held at Al-Arabi's home stadium due to them having more points. Al-Arabi defeated Al-Qaisumah 1–0 to win their second title and first since 1986.
Statistics Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Israel Abia Al-Rawdhah20 Youssef Trabelsi Al-Zulfi3 Elhadji Malick Tall Al-Riyadh174 Vanílson Arar15 Mohammed Abdessalem Al-Taraji6 Fahad Hadl Al-Qaisumah147 Ahmad Boussaid Al-Taraji13 Maher Sharoma Al-Ansar9 Ricardo Hetten12 Abdullah Al-Qahtani Al-Arabi
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Emmanuel Banahene Al-Ansar Arar 3–1 (H) Israel Abia Al-Rawdhah Al-Sadd 4–1 (H) Elhadji Malick Tall Al-Riyadh Al-Rawdhah 4–1 (H) Israel Abia Al-Rawdhah Tuwaiq 3–3 (A) Aneel Bakaki Al-Sharq Al-Entesar 3–0 (A) Vanílson Arar Al-Taqadom 3–3 (A) Youssef Trabelsi Al-Zulfi Al-Qaisumah 5–0 (H) Vanílson Arar Al-Jandal 4–1 (A) Abdullah Al-Qahtani Al-Arabi Al-Lewaa 4–0 (A) Bernard Arthur Al-Taqadom Al-Safa 4–0 (A) Youssef Trabelsi Al-Zulfi Afif 4–1 (A) Mohanad Al-Shudukhi Al-Najma Al-Thoqbah 5–2 (H) Maher Sharoma Al-Entesar Al-Bukiryah 6–0 (H) Youssef Trabelsi Al-Zulfi Al-Taqadom 5–1 (H) Faisal Al-Mutairi Al-Zulfi Al-Jandal 4–4 (A)
Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away
Number of teams by province RankProvinceNumber Teams1Eastern Province7Al-Nairyah, Al-Nojoom, Al-Qaisumah, Al-Rawdhah, Al-Safa, Al-Taraji and Al-ThoqbahRiyadhAfif, Al-Riyadh, Al-Sadd, Al-Sharq, Al-Washm, Al-Zulfi and Tuwaiq3Al-Qassim5Al-Arabi, Al-Bukiryah, Al-Najma, Al-Saqer and Al-Taqadom4Ha'il2Al-Lewaa and Al-RayyanMeccaAl-Entesar and WejMedinaAl-Ansar and Al-Dahab7Al Jawf1Al JandalJazanHettenNorthern BordersArar
See also 2021–22 Saudi Professional League 2021–22 Saudi First Division League 2021–22 Saudi Third Division
References