2023–24 Liga Primera de Nicaragua

Liga Primera de Nicaragua
Season2023–24
ChampionsApertura:
Diriangén
Clausura:
Diriangén
RelegatedMasachapa FC
CONCACAF Central American CupDiriangén
Real Esteli
Managua
Top goalscorerApertura:
Brazil Lucas dos Santos
(17 goals)
Clausura:
Nicaragua Luis Coronel
(00 goals)
Biggest home winApertura:
TBD 9–0 TBD
(1 December 2023)
Clausura:
TBD 5–1 TBD
(2024)
Biggest away winApertura:
TBD 3-5 TBD
Clausura:
TBD 0–7 TBD
(2024)
Highest scoringApertura:
TBD 4-8 TBD
Clausura:
TBD 0–7 TBD
(2024)
All statistics correct as of 24 May 2024.

The 2023–24 Liga Primera de Nicaragua football season was to be divided into two tournaments, Apertura and Clausura. The season will determine the 81st and 82nd champions in the history of the Liga Primera de Nicaragua, the top division of football in Nicaragua. The Apertura tournament is to be played in the second half of 2023, while the Clausura is to be played in the first half of 2024.

Teams

Team information

A total of ten teams contested the league, including nine sides from the 2022–23 Primera División, and one side from the 2022–23 Segunda División.

Juventus Managua finished last in the aggregate table and were relegated to the Segunda División. [1] The champions from the Segunda División, FC San Francisco Masachapa, were promoted in their place.

The 9th place team in the aggregate table, UNAN Managua, faced the second-place team from the Segunda División, Chinandega FC, in a playoff for a spot in the Primera División. UNAN Managua won 14–3 over two legs, meaning UNAN Managua remained in the Primera División.[2]

Promotion and relegation

Promoted from Segunda División as of June, 2023.

Relegated to Segunda División as of June, 2023.


Personnel and kits

Team Chairman Head Coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor(s)
ART Jalapa TBD Nicaragua Leonidas Rodriguez El Salvador TBD Keuka Ferreter Noelito
Diriangén TBD Argentina José Giancone Nicaragua Jason Coronel Macron Credifacil, Doradobet, Claro, Proplisa
CS Sebaco TBD Nicaragua Sergio Ivan Rodriguez Nicaragua Luis Manuel Galeano Keuka Cafe OX, Siles, Transporte Tovel
Managua TBD Brazil Flavio Da Silva Brazil Vinicius de Souza Keuka Claro, Chevron, Fetesa
Masachapa F.C. TBD Nicaragua Ricardo Arévalo Nicaragua Ronald Palacios Keuka Havoline 2T, Electrolit, Green power
Matagalpa FC TBD Costa Rica Glen Blanco Panama Rodolfo Forbes Keuka Standard Chontal
Central Gas
Segruidad Aguila
La Bodeguita
Distarija
Ocotal TBD Nicaragua Juan Pastrana Nicaragua Leonardo Tercero Keuka Nil
Real Esteli TBD Nicaragua Otoniel Olivas Nicaragua Josue Quijano Keuka Tigo, Cafe Ox
UNAN Managua TBD Nicaragua Daniel Garcia Nicaragua Anderson Treminio Joma Universided de Managua
Walter Ferretti TBD Nicaragua Luis Diaz Nicaragua Denis Espinoza Keuka Claro
Nica Logistics
INiser

Managerial changes

Before the start of the season

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Diriangén FC Argentina Roberto Armando Chanampe Mutual Consent May 27, 2023 Argentina José Giancone [3] June 9, 2023 th (2023 Clausura)
UNAM Managua Nicaragua Eduardo Urroz Mutual Consent June, 2023 Nicaragua Daniel Garcia July, 2023 th (2023 Clausura)

During the Apertura season

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Matagalpa FC Costa Rica Glen Blanco Mutual Consent September, 2023 Argentina Roberto Armando Chanampe September 28, 2023 th (2023 Apertura)

Between the Apertura and Clausura season

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Walter Ferretti Nicaragua Luis Diaz Mutual consent November 26, 2023 Costa Rica Glen Blanco November 27, 2023 9th (2023 Apertura)
Masachapa FC Nicaragua Ricardo Arévalo Mutual consent December , 2023 Nicaragua Henry Urbina December 23, 2023 7th (2023 Apertura)
ART Jalapa Nicaragua Leonidas Rodriguez Mutual consent December , 2023 Nicaragua Tyrone Acevedo December 24, 2023 th (2023 Apertura)
Ocotal El Salvador TBD Mutual consent TBD, 2023 Honduras Nelson Vasquez TBD, 2024 th (2023 Apertura)

Clausura seasons

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
TBD Nicaragua TBD Sacked TBD 4, 2024 Nicaragua TBD TBD 5, 2024 th (2024 Clausura)
Masachapa FC Nicaragua Henry Urbina Sacked April 16, 2024 Nicaragua Luis Lopez April 19, 2024 th (2024 Clausura)

Apertura 2023

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Real Estelí (S, F) 18 13 3 2 37 9 +28 42 Advance to Playoffs
(Semifinals)
2 Diriangén (S, F) 18 10 3 5 24 18 +6 33
3 Club Sébaco FC (Q) 18 9 3 6 29 32 −3 30 Advance to Playoffs
(Quarterfinals)
4 Managua (Q) 18 6 7 5 33 26 +7 25
5 UNAN Managua (Q) 18 7 4 7 29 29 0 25
6 Municipal Jalapa (Q) 18 5 7 6 22 25 −3 22
7 Masachapa FC 18 6 3 9 18 32 −14 21
8 Matagalpa 18 4 5 9 23 27 −4 17
9 Walter Ferretti 18 3 8 7 17 24 −7 17
10 Deportivo Ocotal 18 4 3 11 21 31 −10 15
Updated to match(es) played on 2 May 2023. Source: [4]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) head-to-head goals scored; 7) draw.
(F) ?; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (S) ?

Semi-finals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Diriangén 5-1 Sport Sebaco 2–1 3-0
Real Estelí 1-0 Managua 1-0 0–0
Sport Sebaco1-2Diriangén
Brayan Zuniga 71' Renzo Carballo 38' 42'
Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador, Matagalpa
Referee: Miller Lopez

Diriangén3-0Sport Sebaco
Renzo Carballo 26'
Matias Galvaliz 45'
Luis Copete 50'
Nil
Estadio Cacique, Diriamba

Diriangén won 5-1 on aggregate.

Managua0-1Real Estelí
Nil Arley Bonilla 56'
Estadio Cacique, Diriamba

Real Estelí0-0Managua
Nil Nil
Estadio Independencia, Esteli

Real Estelí won 1-0 on aggregate.

Final

First leg
Diriangen1-0Real Estelí
Luis Carlos Torres 49' Nil
Estadio Cacique Diriangén, Diriamba
Referee: Nitzar Sandoval
Second leg
Real Estelí1-1Diriangen
Byron Bonilla 45' Luis Coronal 95'
Estadio Independencia, Esteli
Referee: Ricardo Hernandez

Diriangen FC won 2-1 on Aggregate.


 Apertura 2023 champions 
Diriangen
31st title

Top Goalscorer (Apertura 2023)

No. Player Club Goals
1 Brazil Lucas Dos Santos Managua 17
2 Nicaragua Anderson Treminio UNAN Managua 13
3 Nicaragua Dshon Forbes Diriangen 8
4 Nicaragua Luis Galeano Sport Sebaco 8
5 El Salvador Abner Acuña UNAN Managua 6
6 Argentina Matias Veron Matagalpa 6
7 Nicaragua Byron Bonilla Real Esteli 5
8 Colombia Erick Alcazar Jalapa 4
9 Colombia Arley Bonilla Real Esteli 4
10 Argentina Leonel Buter Diriangen 4

Clausura 2024

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Diriangén (S, F) 18 14 2 2 43 12 +31 44 Advance to Playoffs
(Semifinals)
2 Real Estelí (S, F) 18 10 5 3 33 13 +20 35
3 Managua (Q) 18 8 6 4 32 20 +12 30 Advance to Playoffs
(Quarterfinals)
4 Deportivo Ocotal (Q) 18 8 3 7 23 29 −6 27
5 Walter Ferretti (Q) 18 7 4 7 20 14 +6 25
6 Municipal Jalapa (Q) 18 7 4 7 20 25 −5 25
7 Matagalpa 18 6 3 9 27 32 −5 21
8 UNAN Managua 18 6 3 9 25 32 −7 21
9 Club Sébaco FC 18 4 6 8 25 40 −15 18
10 Masachapa FC 18 1 2 15 19 50 −31 5
Updated to match(es) played on 2 May 2023. Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) head-to-head goals scored; 7) draw.
(F) ?; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (S) ?


Quarterfinals

Managua2-3ART Jalapa
Lucas dos Santos 58' 67' L Borge
Erick Alcazar 93'
M Reyes 96'
Estadio

ART Jalapa progressed.


Deportivo Walter Ferretti5-1Juventus Managua
Francisco Ramos 9' 56'
Luciano Sanhueza 68' 80'
Alexis Somarriba 90'
Lucas Dos Santos 75'
Estadio Cacique Diriangén, Diriamba

Walter Ferretti progressed.


Semi-finals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Diriangén 3-0 ART Jalapa 2–0 1-0
Real Estelí 7-1 Ocotal 2-0 5-1
ART Jalapa0-2Diriangén
Nil Luis Copete
Renzo Carballo
Estadio Alejandro Ramos

Diriangén1-0ART Jalapa
Renzo Carballo 20' Nil
Estadio Cacique, Diriamba

Diriangén won 5-1 on aggregate.

Ocotal0-2Real Estelí
Nil Marvin Fletes 12'
Harold Medina 59'
Estadio Roy Fernando Bermudez

Real Estelí5-1Ocotal
Bancy Hernandez 32' 69'
Harold Medina 48'
Bryan Ordonez 64'
Byron Bonilla 71'
Oscar Rosales 62'
Estadio Independencia, Esteli

Real Estelí won 7-1 on aggregate.

Final

First leg
Real Estelí2-1Diriangen
Bryan Ordonez 40'
Josue Quijano 95'
Luis Carlos Torres pen.' (57)
Estadio Independencia, Esteli
Referee: Tatiana Guzmán
Second leg
Diriangen2-0Real Estelí
Salanda o.g.' (24)
Luis Coronel 75'
Nil
Estadio Cacique Diriangén, Diriamba
Referee: Ricardo Mendoza

Diriangen won 3-2 on Aggregate.


 Clausura 2024 champions 
Diriangen
32nd title

Top Goalscorer (Clausura 2024)

No. Player Club Goals
1 Nicaragua Luis Coronel [6] Diriangén 11
2 Honduras Brayan Zúniga Club Sébaco FC 10
3 Brazil Lucas Dos Santos Managua 9
4 Honduras Edwin Castro Ocotal 7
5 Argentina Leandro Figueroa Walter Ferretti 7
6 Colombia Nicaragua Erick Alcázar ART Jalapa 5
7 Nicaragua Junior Arteaga Diriangén 5
8 Nicaragua Edry Centeno Ocotal 5
9 Panama Sergio Cunningham Real Esteli 5
10 Honduras Christian Durón Masachapa FC 5

List of foreign players in the league

This is a list of foreign players in the 2023–24 season. The following players:

  1. Have played at least one game for the respective club.
  2. Have not been capped for the Nicaragua national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace

A new rule was introduced this season, that clubs can have four foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or a player/s is released, and it is before the closing of the season transfer window.

(player released during the Apertura season) (player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons) (player released during the Clausura season)