2021–22 Malian Première Division

The 2021-22 Malian Première Division was the 55th season of the highest level of professional football in Mali. The championship was contested by 18 teams, starting in November 2021 and finishing in July 2022. Stade Malien were the holders going into the season following their 23nd title in the 2020-21 season, but lost the title to Djoliba AC, who won their 23rd title and drew level with Stade Malien in overall championships won.

Malian Première Division
Season2021-22
Dates13 November 2021 – 14 July 2022
ChampionsDjoliba AC (23rd title)
RelegatedCS Duguwolofila
US Bougouba
AS Olympique de Messira
AS Douanes de Sikasso
CAF Champions LeagueDjoliba AC
CAF Confederation CupAS Real Bamako
Top goalscorerMoussa Koné (20 goals)
2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 17 August 2022.

Overview

Unlike the 2020-21 season, which had two pools of 10 teams and a championship stage, the league went back to an 18 team home-and-away schedule for the 2021–22 season. The reduction from 20 clubs to 18 clubs meant that only two clubs (Afrique Football Elite and US Bougouba) were promoted from the second-tier to replace the four relegated teams from 2020 to 2021.

AS Bakaridjan, Djoliba AC, and USC Kita all mounted strong title challenges and remained towards the top of the table throughout the season, but Djoliba AC eventually accumulated an eight-point lead and won the title with two games left. Djoliba AC also beat AS Real Bamako in the Malian Cup final to complete the league-cup double.[1] Despite finishing 5th, AS Real Bamako qualified for the 2022-23 CAF Confederation Cup by finishing runners-up in the cup. CS Duguwolofila, US Bougouba, AS Olympique de Messira and AS Douanes de Sikasso were relegated to the second-tier after finishing in the bottom four.[2] They will be replaced by Binga FC and US Bougouni, who both won their respective Tournoi de Montée pools.[3]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Djoliba AC (C, Q) 34 17 11 6 44 20 +24 62 Qualification for 2022–23 CAF Champions League
2 AS Bakaridjan 34 14 12 8 39 29 +10 54
3 USC Kita 34 12 18 4 34 28 +6 54
4 Stade Malien 34 15 8 11 38 25 +13 53
5 AS Real Bamako 34 11 15 8 25 16 +9 48 Qualification for the 2022–23 CAF Confederation Cup[lower-alpha 1]
6 AS Korofina 34 12 12 10 32 28 +4 48
7 Afrique Football Élite 34 11 15 8 29 27 +2 48
8 Onze Créateurs de Niaréla 34 10 16 8 32 23 +9 46
9 Cercle Olympique de Bamako 34 11 13 10 27 25 +2 46
10 USFAS Bamako 34 11 13 10 26 30 −4 46
11 AS Police de Bamako 34 10 15 9 29 30 −1 45
12 Yeelen Olympique 34 10 14 10 31 29 +2 44
13 Lafia Club de Bamako 34 11 11 12 33 35 −2 44
14 AS Black Stars de Badalabougou 34 12 8 14 24 29 −5 44
15 CS Duguwolofila (R) 34 10 12 12 33 39 −6 42 Relegation
16 US Bougouba (R) 34 10 7 17 38 46 −8 37
17 AS Olympique de Messira (R) 34 3 14 17 17 44 −27 23
18 AS Douanes de Sikasso (R) 34 3 12 19 16 44 −28 21
Updated to match(es) played on 17 August 2022. Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal Difference
(C) Champions; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. AS Real Bamako qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup as the 2021-22 Malian Cup runners-up

References
  1. ""Mali-Ligue 1 (32e journée) : Djoliba AC réalise le doublé"". Sports News Africa (in French). 4 July 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  2. ""Mali 2021/22"". RSSSF. 17 August 2022.
  3. ""Montée en Ligue 1 Orange / L'US Bougouni composte le second ticket"". Femafoot (in French). 29 July 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
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