The 2022–23 Belgian National Division 1 is the seventh season of the third-tier football league in Belgium and the first one in which U23 teams are admitted into the league, due to the last minute bankruptcy of Roeselare. It is the third season under its new name after being renamed from First Amateur Division. The league began on 18 August 2022 and is scheduled to end on 21 May 2023.
Team changes Out Two teams moved to another level: Dender EH was promoted as champions of the previous season. La Louvière Centre was relegated after finishing last. They were the only team relegated as the previous season was played with one team less due to the bankruptcy of Roeselare, and Mandel United remained in the league after winning the Belgian Division 2 Promotion play-offs.
In Three teams were promoted from the 2021–22 Belgian Division 2: Ninove, runner-up of the Belgian Division 2 VV A as champions Sparta Petegem did not apply for a licence. Hoogstraten, winners of the Belgian Division 2 VV B. RAAL La Louvière, winners of the Belgian Division 2 ACFF.
Four U23 teams were added to the league as it was expanded. The teams joining were determined based on their finishing position in the 2021–22 Belgian U23 league: Jong KAA Gent OH Leuven U-23 Young Reds Antwerp Zébra Élites Charleroi
Format changes Four U23 teams were added to the league as part of a two-season trial, expanding the league from 16 to 20 teams. These twenty teams will play each other twice in a regular competition. At the end of season, the top three teams will be automatically promoted to the 2023–24 Challenger Pro League. Due to reduce the size back from 20 to 18 teams. The three bottom teams will be automatically relegated to 2023–24 Belgian Division 2. U23 teams can be promoted to Challenger Pro League. The 17th place will face relegation play-off.
Team information
Regular season League table
Results
Season statistics Top scorers .
Rank Player Club Goals1 Teddy ChevalierFrancs Borains31 Jérémy PerbetRFC Liège2 Adriano BertacciniThes263 Din SulaKnokke224 Mohamed SoumaréRAAL La Louvière175 Olivier Romero GómezNinove16 Corenthyn LavieFrancs Borains6 Joshua ZimmermanOH Leuven U23157 Adrien BongiovanniZébra Élites Charleroi148 Roman FerberPatro Eisden Maasmechelen13
References