Yemeni League
Yemeni League is the top football division of the Yemen Football Association. It was created in 1990 after the unification of North and South Yemen. It was set up in a four-level system with Premier, First, Second and Third Division.[1]
| Founded | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Country | Yemen |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | President Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Challenge League Arab Champions League |
| Most championships | Al-Ahli San'a (10 titles) |
| Top goalscorer | Ali Al-Nono (163 goals) |
| Website | yemenfa.com |
| Current: 2023 Yemeni League | |
16 northern and 16 southern clubs entered the top level championship in the 1990–91 season. Previously, two separate championships were used for North Yemen and South Yemen.
Currently, 14 clubs play at the top level, with four clubs being relegated to the 2nd tier. The season is generally run from early November to late June with the league winners entering the AFC Challenge League and the Arab Champions League.
The league has been cancelled since 2014 to 2021, due to the civil war which also stopped all other footballing activities in the Middle Eastern country.
Clubs
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Ahli San'a | Sana'a | Ali Muhesen Stadium | 25,000 |
| Al-Hilal Al-Sahili | Al Hudaydah | Al Ulufi Stadium | 10,000 |
| Al-Ittihad Ibb | Ibb | 22 May Stadium | 40,000 |
| Al-Oruba Zabid | Sana'a | Ali Muhesen Stadium | 25,000 |
| Al-Saqr Ta'izz | Ta'izz | Abu Walad Stadium | 5,000 |
| Al-Sha'ab Hadramaut | Mukalla | Baradem Mukalla Stadium | 20,000 |
| Al-Sha'ab Ibb | Ibb | 22 May Stadium | 40,000 |
| Al-Shula Aden | Aden | ||
| Al-Tilal Aden | Aden | May 22 Stadium | 8,000 |
| Al-Wahda Aden | Aden | May 22 Stadium | 30,000 |
| Al-Wahda San'a' | Sana'a | Ali Muhesen Stadium | 25,000 |
| Al Yarmuk Al Rawda | Sana'a | Althawra Sports City Stadium | 30,000 |
| Fahman Abyan | Abyan | ||
| Shabab Al-Jeel | Al Hudaydah |
Champions (before the unification)
| No. | Season | North Yemen | South Yemen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1970–71 | Not Held | Al-Tilal Aden |
| 2 | 1971–72 | Not held | |
| 3 | 1972–73 | Not held | |
| 4 | 1973–74 | Not held | |
| 5 | 1974–75 | Not held | |
| 6 | 1975–76 | Not Held | Al-Wahda Aden |
| 7 | 1976–77 | Not Held | Al-Tilal Aden |
| 8 | 1977–78 | Not held | ؟؟؟ |
| 9 | 1978–79 | Al-Wahda San'a | ؟؟؟ |
| 10 | 1979–80 | Al-Zuhra | Al-Tilal Aden |
| 11 | 1980–81 | Al-Ahli San'a | ؟؟؟ |
| 12 | 1981–82 | Al-Sha'ab San'a | Al-Tilal Aden |
| 13 | 1982–83 | Al-Ahli San'a | Al-Tilal Aden |
| 14 | 1983–84 | Al-Ahli San'a | Al-Shorta Aden |
| 15 | 1984–85 | Not Held | |
| 16 | 1985–86 | Al-Shorta Sana'a' | ؟؟؟ |
| 17 | 1986–87 | Not Held | Al Tilal Aden |
| 18 | 1987–88 | Al-Ahli San'a | Al-Wahda Aden |
| 19 | 1988–89 | Al Yarmuk Al Rawda | Al-Wahda Aden |
| 20 | 1989–90 | Al Yarmuk Al Rawda | Al-Shula Aden |
Yemeni League champions
Top goalscorers
All-time top scorers
- As of 6 July 2013
| Rank | Player | Goals | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ali Al-Nono | 163 | 1999–2014 |
| 2 | Adel Al-Salimi | 136 | 1997–2011 |
| 3 | Sharaf Mahfood | 121 | 1985–2005 |
| 4 | Fathi Jabir | 108 | 1997–2008 |
| 5 | Yordanos Abay | 100 | 2003–2012 |
Topscorers by season
| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
1996-97 |
Jameel Al-Maktry | Shamsan Aden | 21 |
2002-03 |
Fikri Al-Habishi | 13 | |
2003-04 |
Yordanos Abay | Al-Saqr | 15 |
2004-05 |
Yordanos Abay | Al-Saqr | 15 |
2005-06 |
Fekri Al-Hubaishi | Shaab Ibb | 26 |
2006-07 |
Berhanu Kaseem | 15 | |
2007-08 |
Ali Al-Nono | Al-Ahli | 11 |
2008-09 |
Lomi Antita | 13 | |
2009-10 |
Amboio | 15 | |
2010-11 |
Tesfaye Tafese | Al-Tilal | 15 |
2011-12 |
Shaaban Naggar | Al Oruba | 14 |
Total titles won
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Ahli Sana'a | 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Al-Tilal Aden | 8 | 5 | 4 |
| Al-Wahda Sana'a | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Al-Sha'ab Ibb | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Al-Saqr Ta'izz | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Al-Wahda Aden | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Al Yarmuk Al Rawda | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Al-Hilal Al-Sahili | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Al-Sha'ab Hadramaut | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Al-Shula Aden | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Al-Oruba Zabid | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Al-Zuhra | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Al-Sha'ab San'a | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Al-Shorta Sana'a' | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Al-Shorta Aden | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fahman SCC | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Al-Ittihad Ibb | 0 | 1 | 0 |
- Al Yarmuk Al Rawda won championships in 1989 and 1990 as Al Yarmouk San'a'
Total titles won by town or city
Fourteen clubs from a total of five towns and cities have been champions.
| Town or city | Number of titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| San'a' | 22 | Al-Ahli (10), Al-Wahda (5), Al Yarmouk(3), Al-Oruba(1), Al-Zuhra(1), Al-Sha'ab(1), Al-Shorta Sana'a(1) |
| Aden | 13 | Al-Tilal (8), Al-Wahda (3), Al-Shula (1), Al-Shorta Aden (1) |
| Ta'izz | 3 | Al-Saqr (3) |
| Ibb | 2 | Al-Sha'ab (2) |
| Al Hudaydah | 2 | Al-Hilal (2) |
| Hadramaut | 1 | Al-Sha'ab Hadramaut (1) |
| Mudiyah | 1 | Fahman SCC (1) |
References
External links
- Official website (in Arabic)
- Yemeni League – RSSSF
- Yemeni League – Hailoosport.com (in Arabic)
- Yemeni League – Hailoosport.com