2023–24 Cypriot First Division

Cyta Championship
Season2023–24
Dates18 August 2023 – 12 May 2024
ChampionsAPOEL
29th title
RelegatedAEZ Zakakiou
Doxa Katokopias
Othellos Athienou
Champions LeagueAPOEL
Europa LeaguePafos
Conference LeagueAEK Larnaca
Omonia
Matches played142
Goals scored403 (2.84 per match)
Top goalscorerMarios Ilia
(16 goals)
Biggest home winAPOEL 6–0 Othellos Athienou
(21 January 2024)
Biggest away winAEZ Zakakiou 0–5 Aris Limassol
(3 September 2023)
AEZ Zakakiou 0–5 Apollon Limassol
(22 October 2023)
Highest scoringKarmiotissa 6–6 Othellos
(24 April 2024)
Longest winning run7 matches
APOEL
Longest unbeaten run13 matches
AEK Larnaca
Longest winless run21 matches
AEZ Zakakiou
Longest losing run11 matches
Doxa Katokopias
2024-25
All statistics correct as of 10 April 2024.

The 2023–24 Cypriot First Division is the 85th season of the Cypriot top-level football league. Aris Limassol are the defending champions, having won their first title in the 2022–23 season.

The winners (APOEL, their twenty-ninth title win) qualified for the second qualifying round of the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League. The 2023–24 Cypriot Cup winners (Pafos) qualified for the first qualifying round of the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League. The runners-up (AEK Larnaca) and third-placed team (Omonia) qualified for the second qualifying round of the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League. The bottom three teams (Doxa Katokopias, Othellos Athienou, and AEZ Zakakiou) were relegated to the 2024–25 Cypriot Second Division.

Changes from previous season

[edit]

ENP, Akritas Chlorakas (both clubs relegated after a single season in top flight), and Olympiakos Nicosia (relegated for the first time since 2012-13) were relegated in the previous season. They have been replaced by Othellos Athienou (promoted after a 8 seasons absence), AEZ Zakakiou (promoted after a 6 seasons absence), and Ethnikos Achna (promoted after a single season of absence), who were the top three teams in the 2022–23 Cypriot Second Division.[1]

Stadiums and locations

[edit]
Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
AEK Larnaca Larnaca AEK Arena 7,400
AEL Limassol Limassol Alphamega Stadium 10,700
AEZ Zakakiou Zakaki, Limassol Ammochostos Stadium 5,500
Anorthosis Famagusta Famagusta Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium 10,230
APOEL Nicosia GSP Stadium 22,859
Apollon Limassol Limassol Alphamega Stadium 10,700
Aris Limassol
Doxa Katokopias Katokopia, Nicosia Katokopia Stadium 3,500
Ethnikos Achna Achna, Famagusta Dasaki Stadium 7,000
Karmiotissa Pano Polemidia, Limassol Stelios Kyriakides Stadium 9,394
Nea Salamis Famagusta Famagusta Ammochostos Stadium 5,500
Omonia Nicosia GSP Stadium 22,859
Othellos Athienou Athienou, Larnaca Ammochostos Stadium 5,500
Pafos FC Paphos Stelios Kyriakides Stadium 9,394

Source:[2]

Structure

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The structure of the competition remains unchanged from the previous season. 14 teams will participate in the league. In the first round, known as Regular Season, all teams play each other home and away, for a total of 26 games each. In the second round, the league splits into two groups: Teams ranked 1–6 enter the Championship Playoffs, where they compete for the league title and places leading to European football, while teams ranked 7–14 enter the Relegation playoffs, where they compete to avoid relegation. The teams in each group play each other home and away, for a total of 10 or 14 games, depending on the group. Criteria such as points, goal difference, and head to head records are retained during the transition from first to second round. The team ranked first in the Championship Playoffs are declared champions, while the bottom three teams in the Relegation Playoffs are relegated to the Second Division.[3]

Regular season

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League table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 APOEL 26 18 5 3 54 16 +38 59 Qualification for the Championship round
2 Aris Limassol 26 18 2 6 53 21 +32 56
3 AEK Larnaca 26 15 7 4 44 26 +18 52
4 Pafos 26 15 5 6 48 20 +28 50
5 Omonia 26 14 7 5 49 30 +19 49
6 Anorthosis Famagusta 26 14 5 7 38 23 +15 47
7 Apollon Limassol 26 10 8 8 37 27 +10 38 Qualification for the Relegation round
8 Nea Salamis Famagusta 26 10 6 10 34 39 −5 36
9 AEL Limassol 26 9 3 14 34 45 −11 30
10 Ethnikos Achna 26 6 8 12 39 56 −17 26
11 Karmiotissa 26 5 5 16 31 53 −22 20
12 AEZ Zakakiou 26 2 10 14 28 59 −31 16
13 Othellos Athienou 26 3 6 17 20 52 −32 15
14 Doxa Katokopias 26 3 3 20 14 56 −42 12
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off (only if deciding championship round, relegation round or relegation).[4]

Results

[edit]
Home \ Away AEK AEL AEZ ANO APOE APOL ARI DOX ETH KAR NSF OMO OTH PAF
AEK Larnaca 3–0 2–0 1–0 0–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 5–5 5–0 1–1 2–1 3–2 1–0
AEL Limassol 2–3 4–3 1–3 1–1 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–1 2–1 3–1 0–0 2–1 1–2
AEZ Zakakiou 3–1 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–5 0–5 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 0–0 3–3 1–4
Anorthosis Famagusta 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–3 0–2 3–1 1–0 2–2 2–0 2–1 2–2
APOEL 2–2 1–0 3–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 5–0 5–1 4–1 1–0 3–0 6–0 1–0
Apollon Limassol 0–1 2–0 0–0 0–1 2–2 0–1 4–0 0–0 1–0 0–2 1–2 1–1 0–3
Aris Limassol 2–0 4–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–1 2–0 3–0 2–1 2–0 4–0 1–1
Doxa Katokopias 0–2 0–1 1–3 0–2 0–1 0–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–0
Ethnikos Achna 0–3 1–0 4–1 0–1 2–1 2–2 2–6 2–0 3–0 2–3 2–2 1–1 1–4
Karmiotissa 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–2 3–4 4–1 3–1 1–1 0–1 3–3 0–0 2–1
Nea Salamis Famagusta 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–3 0–4 1–1 0–3 2–0 4–0 2–0 0–2 3–2 0–2
Omonia 0–0 3–1 3–3 3–1 2–1 2–0 2–2 5–1 4–1 2–1 4–0 1–0 1–2
Othellos Athienou 0–0 0–3 2–1 0–2 0–1 0–3 0–1 0–0 2–1 0–3 2–3 1–2 0–3
Pafos 0–0 3–1 4–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 4–0 4–3 3–0 0–0 0–2 3–0
Source: Cyprus Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Championship round

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League table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 APOEL (C) 36 22 7 7 63 24 +39 73[a] Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
2 AEK Larnaca 36 21 10 5 57 31 +26 73[a] Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round
3 Omonia 36 20 9 7 62 37 +25 69
4 Aris Limassol 36 20 5 11 63 34 +29 65
5 Pafos 36 18 8 10 60 33 +27 62 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[b]
6 Anorthosis Famagusta 36 15 8 13 46 42 +4 53
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off (only if deciding championship round, relegation round or relegation).[4]
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head to head points: APOEL 8, AEK 2.
  2. ^ Pafos qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2023–24 Cypriot Cup.

Results

[edit]
Home \ Away AEK ANO APOE ARI OMO PAF
AEK Larnaca 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 3–0
Anorthosis Famagusta 0–1 0–0 0–4 0–2 2–3
APOEL 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–1 1–0
Aris Limassol 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–1
Omonia 0–1 2–1 1–0 3–0 1–1
Pafos 0–1 5–1 0–2 1–0 1–1
Source: Cyprus Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation round

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League table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation
1 Apollon Limassol 40 18 12 10 64 38 +26 66
2 AEL Limassol 40 15 9 16 61 68 −7 54
3 Nea Salamis Famagusta 40 14 9 17 52 61 −9 51
4 Ethnikos Achna 40 13 11 16 70 79 −9 50
5 Karmiotissa 40 10 10 20 58 77 −19 40
6 Doxa Katokopias (R) 40 10 5 25 34 77 −43 35 Relegation to the Cypriot Second Division
7 Othellos Athienou (R) 40 8 9 23 48 77 −29 33
8 AEZ Zakakiou (R) 40 2 12 26 40 100 −60 18
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off (only if deciding championship round, relegation round or relegation).[4]
(R) Relegated

Results

[edit]
Home \ Away AEL AEZ APOL DOX ETH KAR NSF OTH
AEL Limassol 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 4–3 5–4 3–2
AEZ Zakakiou 1–5 1–5 2–3 0–1 2–5 0–3 0–4
Apollon Limassol 4–1 1–0 0–1 2–2 0–0 2–0 4–1
Doxa Katokopias 2–2 2–1 0–2 6–3 1–4 1–0 0–1
Ethnikos Achna 2–0 6–2 3–3 1–2 2–1 2–0 2–1
Karmiotissa 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–4 1–3 6–6
Nea Salamis Famagusta 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–1 2–1 0–2 1–1
Othellos Athienou 1–1 3–1 0–1 3–0 2–1 1–2 2–3
Source: Cyprus Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

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Top scorers

[edit]
As of match played 7 May 2024
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Cyprus Marios Elia Ethnikos Achna 19
2 Argentina Enzo Cabrera 18
Cyprus Andreas Katsantonis Karmiotissa
4 Brazil Jairo Pafos 15
Spain Fran Sol AEK Larnaca
6 Sweden Muamer Tanković Pafos 14
7 Spain Sergio Castel Anorthosis Famagusta 12
Cape Verde Willy Semedo Omonia
9 Portugal Pedro Marques Apollon Limassol 11
10 Senegal Sekou Gassama Anorthosis Famagusta 9
Greece Fiorin Durmishaj Nea Salamis Famagusta
Senegal Yannick Gomis Aris Limassol
Cyprus Andronikos Kakoullis Omonia
Cyprus Andreas Makris AEL Limassol
Brazil Marquinhos APOEL

Hat-tricks

[edit]
Player For Against Result Date Ref
Spain Fran Sol4 AEK Larnaca Ethnikos Achna 5–5 28 August 2023 [5]
Cyprus Marios Elia Ethnikos Achna AEK Larnaca [5]
Portugal Pedro Marques Apollon Limassol Doxa Katokopias 4–0 8 October 2023 [6]
Spain Fran Sol AEK Larnaca Karmiotissa 5–0 21 October 2023 [7]
Greece Fiorin Durmishaj Aris Limassol Ethnikos Achna 3–2 3 January 2024 [8]
Sweden Zakaria Sawo Nea Salamis Famagusta Othellos Athienou 4–0 31 January 2024 [9]
Cyprus Andreas Katsantonis Karmiotissa Doxa Katokopias 4–1 2 March 2024 [10]
Norway Mushaga Bakenga Apollon Limassol Ethnikos Achna 3–3 23 April 2024 [11]
Cyprus Andreas Katsantonis Karmiotissa Othellos Athienou 6–6 24 April 2024 [12]
Bulgaria Georgi Minchev AEL Limassol Nea Salamis Famagusta 5–4 [13]
Note

4 Player scored 4 goals

Own goals

[edit]

Clean sheets

[edit]
As of match played 12 November 2023
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Brazil Fabiano Omonia 6
Slovenia Vid Belec APOEL
3 Netherlands Peter Leeuwenburgh Apollon Limassol 5
Croatia Ivica Ivušić Pafos
Bosnia and Herzegovina Kenan Pirić AEK Larnaca
6 Brazil Vaná Aris Limassol 4
7 Colombia Iván Arboleda Anorthosis Famagusta 3
Greece Nikos Melissas Nea Salamis Famagusta
9 Cyprus Constantinos Panagi Ethnikos Achna 2
Poland Mateusz Taudul Othellos Athienou

Discipline

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Red cards

[edit]
As of match played 7 May 2024

References

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  1. ^ "Έπεσε η αυλαία στο 84ο Παγκύπριο Πρωτάθλημα Α' Κατηγορίας". www.cfa.com.cy. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  2. ^ ""Κλείδωσαν" οι έδρες των 14 ομάδων, κανονικά στο "Στέλιος Κυριακίδης" η Πάφος | AlphaNews.Live". www.alphanews.live (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  3. ^ "Προκήρυξη Πρωταθλήματος Cyta 2023/2024" [Declaration of Cyta Championship 2023/2024] (PDF). Cyprus Football Association (in Greek). 27 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "1. Division 2022/2023". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b "AEK Larnaca vs. Ethnikos Achna - 28 August 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  6. ^ "Apollon 4-0 Doxa". soccerway.com. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  7. ^ "AEK Larnaca 5-0 Karmiotissa". soccerway.com. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Ethnikos Achna 2-3 Aris Limassol". soccerway.com. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Aris Limassol 4-0 Othellos Athienou". soccerway.com. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Doxa Katokopias 1-4 Karmiotissa". soccerway.com. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Ethnikos Achna 3-3 Apollon Limassol". soccerway.com. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Karmiotissa 6-6 Othellos Athienou". soccerway.com. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ^ "AEL Limassol 5-4 Nea Salamis Famagusta". soccerway.com. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.