2018–19 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League


The 2018–19 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League was the 2nd season of the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League under its current name, and 42nd season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 28 August 2018 and concluded on 15 May 2019. Fixtures for the 2018–19 season were announced on 25 July 2018.
The first team to be promoted was Abha, following their 2–2 draw away to Al-Nojoom on 30 April 2019. Despite losing to Al-Qaisumah, Abha were crowned champions on 11 May 2019 following Damac's 1–1 draw with Al-Ain. The second team to be promoted was Damac, in spite of their 1–0 defeat away to Al-Tai, on 5 May 2019. The third and final team to be promoted was Al-Adalah, who were promoted on the final matchday following their 2–0 win at home against Damac on 15 May 2019.

Overview

First Division rebranding

On 7 March 2018, the Saudi FF announced that the league would be increased from 16 teams to 20 teams. The competition will be known as the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League for the second season.

Rule changes

On 7 March 2018, the SAFF announced that the numbers of foreign players were increased from 3 players to 7 players. They also increased the prize money to SAR 10 million.

Teams

A total of 20 teams are contesting the league, including 9 sides from the 2017–18 season, 6 promoted teams from the Second Division, the two playoff losers from the 2017–18 Pro League playoffs, and three winners from the 2017–18 relegation playoffs.
No teams were relegated from the Pro League. Due to an increase in the number of teams, the Saudi FF announced that the relegation was canceled and in its place was a relegation play-off. Both Pro League teams, Al-Raed and Ohod, won the playoffs and secured their top-flight status.
Al-Washm were promoted as the winners of the Second Division and Al-Jabalain were promoted as the runners-up. Al-Jeel defeated Al-Ansar in the third place playoffs. Both teams were promoted after the increase of teams. The 4 teams were joined by the third-placed teams of both groups, Al-Adalh and Al-Ain. Abha defeated Al-Watani in the relegation playoffs and became the only Second Division side to win their relegation playoff match.
Al-Washm and Al-Ain will play in the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League for the first time in their history. Al-Jabalain return to the MS League for the first time since the 2007–08 season. Abha return to the MS League for the first time since the 2014–15 season. Al-Ansar return to the MS League for the first time since the 2013–14 season. Al-Adalh and Al-Jeel return to the MS League after only a season's absence.
On 4 May 2018 Al-Watani became the only club to be relegated to the Second Division following their 1–0 defeat to Abha.

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2017–18 season.

To Prince Mohammad bin Salman League

Promoted from Second Division
Promoted to Pro League
Relegated to Second Division


TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
AbhaAbhaPrince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Al-AdalhAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-AinAl-AtawilahKing Saud Sport City Stadium
Al-AnsarMedinaAl-Ansar Club Stadium
Al-JabalainHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium
Al-JeelAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-KawkabAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium
Al-KhaleejSaihatPrince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Stadium
Al-MujazzalAl-Majma'ahAl-Majma'ah City Stadium
Al-NahdaDammamPrince Fahd bin Salman Stadium
Al-NojoomAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-OrobahSakakahAl-Oruba Club Stadium
Al-QaisumahQaisumahAl-Batin Club Stadium
Al-ShoullaAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium
Al-TaiHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium
Al-WashmShaqraaAl-Washm Club Stadium
DamacKhamis MushaitDamac Club Stadium
HajerAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
JeddahJeddahReserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City
NajranNajranPrince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium

1: Najran will play at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium due to the ongoing war in Yemen
2: Al-Adalh, Al-Jeel, Al-Nojoom and Hajer also use Al-Fateh Club Stadium as a home stadium.

Foreign players

The number of foreign players is limited to 7 per team.
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Player 6Player 7Former Players
Abha Gilles Ngomo Ibrahima Camara Ousmane Pato Souleymane Demba Houssem Tabboubi Cédric Tchoumbé
Al-Adalh Selemani Ndikumana Carolus Andria Martial Yao Yassine Boufalgha Youssef Fouzai Leo Alves
Al-Ain Bruno Silva Diego Assis Soualio Ouattara Moctar Cissé Moses Ogbu Faiz Al-Rushaidi Abdoulaye Dieng Rennan Oliveira
Masahudu Alhassan
Azeez Shobola
Sy Ass Mandaw
Hichem Essifi
Al-Ansar Ley Matampi Dieudonné Nkoume Mohamed Awal Abdallah Deeb David Ifeanyi Abdelrazaq Al-Hussain——
Al-Jabalain Sedjro Counou Yuri Messias Peter Nworah Hugo López José Galán Mahmoud Al-Youssef Harmony Ikande
Isah Eliakwu
Alfred Sankoh
Al-Jeel Francisco Pereira Gugu Vieira Jose Anderson Kadu Fernandes Morotó Valdinei ' Leandro Tanaka
Al-Kawkab Mohamed Koffi Torric Jebrin Jose Fajardo Mignane Diouf Chaker Rguiî Rafael Donato
Chiheb Jebali
Al-Khaleej Bernardo Souza Alsény Bangoura Lassina Diaby Abdullah Al-Zubi Alioune Ndiaye—
Al-Mujazzal Ailton Machado Allan Machado João Paulo Shassiri Nahimana Dmitri Stajila Miloš Krstić Nicholas Dillon David Batista
Carlos Ross
Draško Đorđević
Lester Peltier
Al-Nahda Fodé Camara ' Idrissa Coulibaly Cheibane Traoré Alaeddine Abbès ' '
'
Abdou Traoré
Al-Nojoom Gabriel Macedo Aboubacar Sawadogo Paul Onobi——— Mohammad Al-Dmeiri
Saith Sakala
Al-Orobah Eydison Felipe Félix Jefinho Elhadji Ndoye Mohamed Daf Daneil Cyrus Lester Peltier Dija Baiano
Pedro Rosa

Maxime Feudjou

Ousmane Pato
Al-Qaisumah Ali Lakroum ' Youcef Chibane Arthur Silva Mamut Saine Gbolahan Salami ' '
Ante Hrakac
Kofi Boakye
Souleymane Demba
Nikola Ašćerić
Al-Shoulla Tarabai Sylla Daouda Emmanuel Banahene Piqueti Wilson Akakpo Ziyo Tembo '
Julien Ebah
Béranger Itoua
Al-Tai Dudu Pitty ' Aboubacar Sylla Mamadou Barry Moussa Sarr Saith Sakala Said Al-Ruzaiqi
Bouba Sall
Malick Sambou
Kemo Soumare
Al-Washm Hamza Aït Ouamar ' Kafoumba Touré Ugonna Uzochukwu Vasco Coelho Rodolfo Mol
Razak Nuhu
Mohamed Diabagate
Damac Hacène El Okbi Abdel Fadel Suanon Aubin Kouakou Junior Magbi Ahmed Al Ahmed Khaled Haj Othman Mahmoud Ben Salah Harouna Samake
Alegbe Victor
Christian Pyagbara
Hajer ' Rayllan Noor Sabri Alassane Diop Gege Soriola Łukasz Gikiewicz Robert Ghansah
Jeddah Felipe Nunes Thiago Furtuoso Alain Zoe Patrick Gbala Ousmane Diabaté Abami Giovani
Reda El-Weshi
Gilles N'Guessan
Najran Guy Toindouba Mohammad Zureiqat Marco Tagbajumi Reuben Gabriel Mehdi Ressaissi Esquerdinha
Felipe Almeida
Mosquito
Moïse Zongo
Mohamed Doumouya

League table

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.

Results

Season progress

Statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Carolus AndriaAl-Adalh22
2 José FajardoAl-Kawkab18
3 Saleh Al AbbasNajran17
4 Hermann KouaoAl-Nojoom15
5 Saith SakalaAl-Tai14
5 Lester PeltierAl-Orobah14
5 Cheibane TraoréAl-Nahda14
5 Ousmane PatoAbha14
9 Emmanuel BanaheneAl-Shoulla13
10 Yousef OmarAl-Jeel12
10 Faisel Al-JamaanHajer12

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean sheets
1 Khaled Haj OthmanDamac14
1 Hortalin ZadiAl-Nahda14
1 Bilel SouissiAl-Adalh14
4 Mahmoud Al-YoussefAl-Jabalain13
5 Okemute OdahJeddah12
5 Dmitri StajilaAl-Mujazzal12
5 Francisco PereiraAl-Jeel12
8 Noor SabriHajer11
8 Abdullah Al-ZubiAl-Khaleej11
10 Ley MatampiAl-Ansar10