Maltese Challenge League
Season2023–24
Dates16 September 2023 – 28 April 2024
Matches played96
Goals scored261 (2.72 per match)
Top goalscorerAndre Carlos Penha Da Costa
(12 Goals)
Biggest home winMelita 4-0 Msida Saint-Joseph
(1 October 2023)
Biggest away winAttard 0-5 Marsa
(4 November 2023)
Highest scoringFgura United 4-4 Melita
(17 December 2023)
Longest winning runŻabbar St. Patrick
(5 Games)
Longest unbeaten runMarsa
(9 Games)
Longest winless runSt. Andrews
(8 Games)
Longest losing runSt. Andrews
(6 Games)
2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 7 January 2024.

The 2023–24 Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons) is the second-level league football in Malta. It is the fourth season that the competition has been running in its present form.

Team changes

The following teams have changed divisions since the 2022–23 season:

Teams

Sixteen teams will compete in the league which will include the four teams promoted from the Amateur League and two or three teams relegated from the Premier League. The top two teams will achieve automatic promotion at the end-of-season. The bottom four clubs will go automatically relegated.

Team Location Manager
Attard Attard Malta Robert Magro
Fgura United Fgura Malta Kevin Vella
Lija Athletic Lija Malta Joseph Galea
Luqa St. Andrew's Luqa Albania Edmond Lufi
Marsa Marsa Nigeria Orosco Anonam
Melita San Ġiljan Malta Clive Mizzi
Msida Saint-Joseph Msida Malta Neville Galea
Pietà Hotspurs Pietà Malta Manuel Caruana
Senglea Athletic Senglea Malta Liam Mangion
St. Andrews St. Andrew's, Malta Malta Charles Muscat
Swieqi United Swieqi Argentina Pablo Doffo
Tarxien Rainbows Tarxien Malta Jacques Scerri
Żabbar St. Patrick Zabbar Argentina Emilio Cornago San Pedro
Żebbuġ Rangers Żebbuġ Malta Rodney Bugeja
Żejtun Corinthians Zejtun Malta Ivan Casha
Żurrieq Żurrieq Malta Saviour Debono Grech

Kits

Team Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor (front) Shirt sponsor (back) Shirt sponsor (sleeve)
Attard Givova Bilven Ltd, Searched A to Z Electronics (Both)
Fgura United Adidas Fundazzjoni Sebħ, Trust Stamp, Euro Bridge, Iveco (Top Left) EuroSport (Top), Rad Auto Dealer (Bottom) Fundazzjoni Sebħ (Right), Hair Haven (Left)
Lija Athletic Macron Falzon Group Of Companies TeamSport (Top), La Crema (Bottom)
Luqa St. Andrew's Macron Seduta Construction Bilon Service (Right)
Marsa Legea F Schembri
Melita Hummel Atlas Insurance Hub88 (Top), Burger King (Middle) Eurosport (Bottom) I nouv (Right), VIBE (Left)
Msida Saint-Joseph Legea C.A.M.C. Security, MTZ Group (Top Left) Sports Locker (Top), The Tub (Bottom) Cuschieri Group (Left), KF Kebab (Right)
Pietà Hotspurs Jartazi Famalco.net, A1 Supplies, Xuereb Installation Farstone Construction (Top)
Senglea Athletic Givova Palumbo, AUM, JCJuc Ltd
St. Andrews Macron Fiat, Frank Salt atg (Left), Marsali (Right)
Swieqi United Erima Platin P Casino, BEHR Eight Four Capital (Top)
Tarxien Rainbows Erreà Cassar, Dee Spas Cargo Nigel (Bottom) AEN (Right)
Żabbar St. Patrick Erreà The Shoreline DL Group (Top), Kristal (Bottom)
Żebbuġ Rangers Joma The Convenience Shop, Coop Italia
Żejtun Corinthians Erreà Inno-hit Magic Castle (Right)
Żurrieq Erima Trust Payment Xace (Top), Corendion, D£, B.home (Bottom) Tax ORB (Left), Firetech (Right)

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure		 Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Melita Malta Saviour Debono Grech End of Contract 24 April 2023 Pre-season Malta Clive Mizzi 25 May 2023
Marsa Malta Ryan Fenech End of Caretaker Nigeria Orosco Anonam 15 May 2023
Żurrieq Malta George Magri Resign 29 April 2023 Malta Saviour Debono Grech 10 May 2023
Żabbar St. Patrick Argentina Emilio Cornago End of Caretaker 2 May 2023 Malta Joseph Spiteri 20 May 2023
Żebbuġ Rangers Malta Brian Spiteri End of Contract 3 May 2023 Malta Rodney Bugeja 19 May 2023
Pietà Hotspurs Malta Rodney Bugeja 6 May 2023 Malta Manuel Caruana 26 May 2023
St. Andrews Malta Brian Said 7 May 2023 Malta Ramon Zammit 13 May 2023
Żejtun Corinthians Nigeria Orosco Anonam 15 May 2023 Malta Ivan Casha 29 May 2023
Swieqi United Malta Stephen Damato Signed by Sirens 24 May 2023 Argentina Pablo Doffo 26 May 2023
St. Andrews Malta Ramon Zammit Sacked 21 October 2023 13th Malta Charles Muscat 21 October 2023
Senglea Athletic Malta Edgar Degabriele 21 November 2023 10th Malta Liam Mangion 30 November 2023

Stadiums

Ta' Qali Hamrun
Centenary Stadium Victor Tedesco Stadium
Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 1,962

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Żabbar St. Patrick (Q) 12 9 2 1 18 4 +14 29 Qualification for the Top Six
2 Melita 12 8 3 1 30 18 +12 27
3 Pietà Hotspurs 12 7 3 2 21 11 +10 24
4 Fgura United 12 7 2 3 26 18 +8 23
5 Żurrieq 12 7 2 3 17 15 +2 23
6 Lija Athletic 12 6 2 4 23 19 +4 20
7 Senglea Athletic 12 5 5 2 14 9 +5 20 Qualification for the Play-Out
8 Marsa 12 5 4 3 23 15 +8 19
9 Swieqi United 12 4 4 4 12 12 0 16
10 Tarxien Rainbows 12 3 6 3 13 9 +4 15
11 Żejtun Corinthians 12 3 3 6 13 15 −2 12
12 Luqa St. Andrew's (Q) 12 2 4 6 16 21 −5 10
13 Żebbuġ Rangers (Q) 12 2 3 7 8 21 −13 9
14 Msida Saint-Joseph (Q) 12 2 0 10 7 24 −17 6
15 Attard (Q) 12 1 3 8 12 29 −17 6
16 St. Andrews (Q) 12 1 2 9 9 22 −13 5
Updated to match(es) played on 7 January 2024. Source: Malta Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champions or teams for relegation).
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Results

Home \ Away ATT FGU LJA LQA MSA MEL MSI PIE SEN STA SWQ TAR ZAB ZEB ZEJ ZUR
Attard — 1–2 2–3 — 0–6 — — 2–1 1–1 — — 0–3 — 20 Jan —
Fgura United — — 3–0 — 1–2 4–4 — 0–4 — 2–0 20 Jan — 2–3 — —
Lija Athletic — — — 3–1 — 2–3 3–2 — 28 Jan — 0–0 — — 4–1 4–0
Luqa St. Andrew's 4–1 0–3 — — — — — — 2–2 2–2 20 Jan 1–3 — 2–0 —
Marsa — — 3–0 — 3–3 — 1–3 2–1 — — — 21 Jan 2–0 — 1–2
Melita 1–0 — — 2–1 — — 4–0 — — — 4–1 2–1 — 27 Jan 2–0
Msida Saint-Joseph 2–1 0–1 — 28 Jan 2–0 — — — — 1–3 0–2 — — 0–4 —
Pietà Hotspurs — — 2–2 1–0 — 2–2 1–0 — 0–1 21 Jan — — — 2–0 —
Senglea Athletic 3–3 — 2–2 — 20 Jan 1–0 — — — — 0–0 — — 2–0 0–1
St. Andrews — — 1–2 — 27 Jan 0–3 — 0–1 — — 0–3 — 3–1 — 2–3
Swieqi United 27 Jan — — 0–0 — — 1–2 1–1 2–0 — — 1–0 0–1 — —
Tarxien Rainbows 4–2 0–1 — — 3–3 — — 0–1 — — 0–0 — — 0–0 27 Jan
Żabbar St. Patrick — — 1–0 — — 4–0 1–0 28 Jan 0–0 1–0 — — 1–0 — —
Żebbuġ Rangers 1–1 21 Jan 1–1 — — 3–0 — 0–2 — — 0–0 — — — 0–5
Żejtun Corinthians — 28 Jan — 0–0 — 2–2 — 1–0 0–1 — 0–1 4–1 — —
Żurrieq 1–1 1–4 — 1–0 — — 21 Jan — — 1–0 — 0–0 — 2–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 7 January 2024. Source: Malta Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

As of 7 January 2024[1]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Brazil Andre Carlos Penha Da Costa Melita 12
2 Nigeria Nnamdi Ofufu Ibeh Fgura United 10
3 Albania Erjon Beu Lija Athletic 9
4 Portugal Ivan Sousa Flora Francisco Zurrieq 8
5 Albania Bledi Alla Attard 7
Colombia Johan Alberto Castano Fgura United
Colombia Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales Luqa St. Andrews
Argentina Augusto Rene' Caseres Marsa
Brazil Pavlidis Claudio Antunes Pieta Hotspurs

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Stadium Date
Brazil Andre Carlos Penha Da Costa Melita Msida Saint-Joseph 4-0 (H) Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun 1 October 2023
Argentina Santiago Fabian Moracci Tarxien Rainbows Attard 4-2 (H) Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali 22 October 2023
Argentina Augusto Rene' Caseres Marsa 6-0 (A) Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun 4 November 2023
Portugal Ivan Sousa Flora Francisco Żurrieq St. Andrews 3-2 (A) Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali 2 December 2023
Brazil Pavlidis Claudio Antunes Pieta Hotspurs Marsa 3-1 (A) 10 December 2023
Brazil Andre Carlos Penha Da Costa4 Melita Fgura United 4-4 (A) 17 December 2023
Notes

4 Player scored 4 goalss

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Malta Matthew Grech Żabbar St. Patrick 9
2 Malta Glenn Zammit Senglea Athletic 7
Malta Andreas Vella Tarxien Rainbows
4 Malta Christopher Farrugia Marsa 5
Malta Reeves Cini Pieta Hotspurs
Malta Jean Claude Debattista Swieqi United
7 Malta Julian Azzopardi Fgura United 4
Malta Gosef Mizzi Melita
Malta Frederick Tabone Zejtun Corinthians
Malta Ryan Caruana Zurrieq
11 Malta Jamie Azzopardi Zebbug Rangers 3
12 Malta Luke Bonnici Lija Athletic 2

Discipline

Player

  • Most yellow cards: 7
    • Colombia Camilo Del Castillo Escobar (Attard)
  • Most red cards: 2
    • Brazil Lucas Vinicius Viana Prati (Lija Athletic)

Club

References

  1. ↑ "Tables & Statistics". maltafootball.com. 20 September 2020.
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