The second edition of SAFF Women's Premier League will start on October 13

2023-08-16
15:26:28

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has set October 13 as the date for the launch of the second edition of SAFF Women's Premier League, with the participation of 8 teams, which are Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Shabab, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Eastern Flames FC, Al-Riyadh, Al-Qadisiyah (formerly Al-Muttahed), as Women’s Premier League will be held in its second version by the home and away system, as the number of matches is 56 matches over 14 rounds.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation also decided to establish the Women's First Division League with the participation of 30 teams, which will be distributed to 6 regions, provided that the league will start next November with a regional home and away system, while the First Division League champion will be determined through the final rounds of the league with the knockout system, which will be held between the qualified teams from the group stage, provided that the first three places will be promoted to the Premier League in the next edition, while the last placed team from the Premier League will be relegated to the First Division League.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation approved the financial prizes for the Women's Premier League and First Division League, as the Premier League champion will receive two million riyals, the second place will be one million riyals, and the third place will be 600,000 riyals, while the First Division League champion will get 500,000 riyals, and the second place will get 350,000 riyals and the third place is 200,000 riyals.

Lamia bint Ibrahim bin Bahian, Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, stressed that the great success enjoyed by the Premier League and the First Division League in its first season would not have come without the generous support of the wise leadership of the football sector in general and women’s football in particular, praising the great effort made by SAFF to develop the women's football system.

Bin Bahian indicated that the success of the first season was a motive for raising ambitions in the second season of the Premier League and the First Division League, stressing that the second season will witness many developments that will contribute to raising the quality and developing all aspects related to women’s football competitions, which will reflect positively on women’s national team in the upcoming regional and international events.

The Director of the Women's Football Department, Alia bint Abdulaziz Al-Rasheed, praised the technical level with which the first season of the Premier League and the First Division League appeared, noting that the ultimate goal is to raise the level of competition, and to do everything possible to develop the technical and physical capabilities of the players, which will be reflected in evolution of the level of the league and national teams.

It is noteworthy that Al-Nassr was crowned with the title of the first season of the Women’s Premier League after obtaining 35 points from 11 wins, two draws and one loss, while Al-Riyadh achieved the First Division League title and was promoted to the Premier League after defeating Al-Muttahed in the final match.