# 2023 Tajikistan Higher League

The 2023 Ligai Olii Tojikiston (Tajik: 2023 Лигаи Олии Тоҷикистон, Russian: 2023 Высшая Лига Таджикистана) or 2023 Tajikistan Higher League, also known as 1xBet Higher League due to sponsorship reasons, was the 32nd season of the Tajikistan Higher League, Tajikistan's top division of association football.

## Season events

On 22 February 2022, the Tajikistan Football Federation announced that the season would commence on 1 April, and follow the same format as the previous season. The 10 teams would play each other twice in the regular stage of the season, before splitting into Championship and Relegation groups where they would then play everyone in their group again, resulting in the bottom two teams being relegated from the league.
On 24 February, the Tajikistan Football Federation announced 1xBet as the new title sponsor of the league, as well as the Tajikistan Cup and Tajik Supercup.
On 10 April, the Tajikistan Football Federation announced the VAR would be introduced to the league for the second half of the season.
On 18 April, all five of the fifth round matches scheduled to be held on either 20 April or 21 April, where postponed until 28–30 June due to the original dates falling on Eid al-Fitr.

## Teams

On 28 February, the Tajikistan Football Federation confirmed that 10 teams would take part in the 2023 season.
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity |
| CSKA Pamir | Dushanbe | CSKA Stadium | 7,000 |
| Eskhata | Khujand | Bistsolagii Istiqloliyati Stadium | 20,000 |
| Fayzkand | Hulbuk | Central Stadium | |
| Istiklol | Dushanbe | Central Republican Stadium | 24,000 |
| Khatlon | Bokhtar | Tsentralnyi Stadium | 10,000 |
| Khosilot Farkhor | Farkhor | Central Stadium | |
| Khujand | Khujand | Bistsolagii Istiqloliyati Stadium | 20,000 |
| Kuktosh Rudaki | Chorgulteppa | Rudaki Stadium | |
| Ravshan | Kulob | Central Stadium | |
| Regar-TadAZ | Tursunzoda | TALCO Arena | 10,000 |

### Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Sponsor |
| CSKA Pamir | Shamsiddin Kosimov | | Joma | Formula 55 |
| Eskhata | Igor Surov | | Joma | Bank Eskhata |
| Fayzkand | Jaloliddin Majidov | | Joma | — |
| Istiklol | Igor Cherevchenko | Alisher Dzhalilov | Joma | Siyoma |
| Khatlon | Asliddin Khabibullaev | Umarjon Sharipov | Joma | Parimatch |
| Khosilot Farkhor | Amin Subhoni | | | |
| Khujand | Numon Khasanov | | Joma | Formula 55 |
| Kuktosh Rudaki | Abdujabbor Marufaliev | | | |
| Ravshan Kulob | Tokhirjon Muminov | | Joma | Hoji Sharif |
| Regar-TadAZ | Aliyor Ashurmamadov | | Joma | TALCO |

### Foreign players

During the 2023 season, Tajikistan Higher League are able to register seven foreign players, with only five being able to be on the pitch at the same time.
The summer transfer window began on 1 July and is due to close on 28 July.
| Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 | Player 5 | Player 6 | Player 7 | Former Players |
| CSKA Pamir | Gerard Bakinde | Jean Gaten | Ngatu Ntengu Doirian | Akhabi Doniel Henri | | | | Seyed Hossein Noorbakhshi Süleýman Muhadow |
| Eskhata | Vladislav Shevchenko | Roman Khibaba | Olim Karimov | Shakhzod Mamurdzhonov | Sanjar Rihsiboev | | | |
| Fayzkand | Nnaga Akhanda | Bill Obama Arsen | Arthur Bougnon | Joseph Feumba | François Haignegue | Junior Onana | Mayen Maja Mayor | Prosper Gbeku Zufarjon Akbaraliev |
| Istiklol | Artur Kartashyan | Dženis Beganović | Ivan Novoselec | Mojtaba Moghtadaei | Cédric Gogoua | Senin Sebai | Joseph Okoro | Idriss Aminu |
| Khatlon | Enoch Aryeetey | Bonnah Derrick | Torsu Christian Dodzi | Kofi Dwomoh | Chris Emmanuel Kakou | Rustamjon Kuchkarov | | |
| Khosilot Farkhor | Yapequ Kapava | Franck Michael Nonga | Benjamin Asamoah | Prosper Gbeku | Aryeetey Roger | | | Saeid Asghari Torzani Milad Beyrampour Musisi Farouk Temur Mamatmurodov |
| Khujand | Tony Bikatal | Mehdi Amini zazerani | Ramazan Naniev | Dejan Tumbas | Khushnudbek Bozorov | Javokhirbek Rasulov | Bae Beom-geun | Layonel Adams Darko Bjedov |
| Kuktosh Rudaki | Mohammed Kamal | Anani Julius Kvasi | Abraham Odonkor | Mahdi Nourpourasl | Sundaya Longji Song | Temur Masharipov | Mukhiddin Odilov | |
| Ravshan Kulob | Joseph Akomadi | Ocran Idan | Emmanuel Maabuah | Samuel Ofori (Defender) | Emmanuel Mwanengo | Yevhen Hrytsenko | Akobir Turaev | Chris Emmanuel Kakou |
| Regar-TadAZ | Prince Arthur | Kuaye Godson | Ramiz Begishev | Sardor Jakhonov | Anvar Murodov | Asilbek Temirov | | Sheldari Arash |
In bold: Players that have been capped for their national team.

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| CSKA Pamir | Amin Subhoni | | | Preseason | Akhliddin Turdiev | |
| Eskhata | Khamid Karimov | | | Preseason | Igor Surov | |
| Fayzkand | Masoud Nazarzadeh | | | Preseason | Jaloliddin Majidov | |
| Istiklol | Alisher Tukhtaev (Interim) | Contract Expired | | Preseason | Igor Cherevchenko | 18 January 2023 |
| Ravshan Kulob | Boir Gamberdiev | | | Preseason | Tokhir Muminov | |
| Regar-TadAZ | Hikmat Fuzailov | | | Preseason | Aliyor Ashurmamadov | |
| CSKA Pamir Dushanbe | Akhliddin Turdiev | | 17 April 2023 | 9th | Shamsiddin Kosimov | 17 April 2023 |
| Khujand | Rustam Khojayev | Resigned | 27 April 2023 | 6th | Farrukh Marofiev (Caretaker) | 27 April 2023 |
| Khujand | Farrukh Marofiev (Caretaker) | End of tenure | 30 April 2023 | 8th | Numon Khasanov | 1 May 2023 |

## Regular season
### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Istiklol (Q) | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 42 | 8 | +34 | 40 | Qualification for Championship round |
| 2 | Ravshan Kulob (Q) | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 13 | +10 | 31 | Qualification for Championship round |
| 3 | Kuktosh Rudaki (Q) | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 30 | 25 | +5 | 29 | Qualification for Championship round |
| 4 | Eskhata (Q) | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 24 | 28 | −4 | 26 | Qualification for Championship round |
| 5 | Fayzkand (Q) | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 25 | Qualification for Championship round |
| 6 | Khujand (Q) | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 18 | 26 | −8 | 22 | Below for Relegation Round |
| 7 | CSKA Pamir (Q) | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 20 | Below for Relegation Round |
| 8 | Khosilot Farkhor (Q) | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 20 | −6 | 20 | Below for Relegation Round |
| 9 | Khatlon (Q) | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 33 | −22 | 16 | Below for Relegation Round |
| 10 | Regar-TadAZ (Q) | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 28 | −11 | 16 | Below for Relegation Round |

### Results

| Home \ Away | CPD | ESK | FAY | IST | KHA | KHF | KJD | KUK | RAV | REG |
| CSKA Pamir | | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Eskhata | 3–2 | | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Fayzkand | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 5–1 |
| Istiklol | 0–0 | 5–0 | 2–1 | | 5–0 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 5–0 |
| Khatlon | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Khosilot Farkhor | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 |
| Khujand | 0–2 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 |
| Kuktosh Rudaki | 1–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | | 0–2 | 4–2 |
| Ravshan Kulob | 1–0 | 0–3 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 3–1 |
| Regar-TadAZ | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | |

### Results by round

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| CSKA Pamir | L | D | D | D | L | D | L | W | D | W | W | W | D | L | L | D | L | D |
| Eskhata | W | W | L | W | L | D | L | W | W | L | L | W | W | L | L | L | W | D |
| Fayzkand | D | L | W | D | W | D | W | L | D | L | W | D | D | W | W | L | L | D |
| Istiklol | W | W | D | W | W | D | L | W | W | W | W | L | D | W | D | W | W | W |
| Khatlon | L | L | W | W | L | L | W | L | W | L | L | L | L | L | L | W | L | D |
| Khosilot Farkhor | D | W | D | L | L | L | W | D | L | L | L | L | W | L | W | D | W | D |
| Khujand | L | D | W | D | W | D | D | L | L | W | L | L | D | W | D | W | D | L |
| Kuktosh Rudaki | L | L | L | L | W | W | D | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | L | L |
| Ravshan Kulob | W | D | L | D | W | D | W | D | D | W | W | W | L | D | D | L | W | W |
| Regar-TadAZ | W | D | D | L | L | W | L | L | D | L | L | D | L | D | W | L | D | D |

## Championship round
### Championship round table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Istiklol (C) | 22 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 56 | 12 | +44 | 52 | Qualification for AFC Champions League Two group stage |
| 2 | Ravshan Kulob | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 29 | 20 | +9 | 35 | Qualification for AFC Champions League Two group stage |
| 3 | Kuktosh Rudaki | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 38 | 36 | +2 | 33 | |
| 4 | Eskhata | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 32 | −2 | 33 | |
| 5 | Fayzkand | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 36 | −7 | 26 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ESK | FAY | IST | KUK | RAV |
| Eskhata | | 0–0 | | | 1–0 |
| Fayzkand | | | 1–4 | 2–6 | |
| Istiklol | 4–2 | | | | 2–0 |
| Kuktosh Rudaki | 0–3 | | 1–4 | | |
| Ravshan Kulob | | 4–2 | | 2–2 | |

### Results by round

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Eskhata | W | P | D | L | W |
| Fayzkand | L | L | D | P | L |
| Istiklol | P | W | W | W | W |
| Kuktosh Rudaki | L | W | L | D | P |
| Ravshan Kulob | W | L | P | D | L |

## Relegation round
### Relegation round table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 6 | CSKA Pamir | 22 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 26 | |
| 7 | Khujand | 22 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 27 | −8 | 26 | |
| 8 | Khosilot Farkhor | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 22 | −5 | 25 | |
| 9 | Regar-TadAZ (R) | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 30 | −9 | 24 | Relegation to Tajik First Division |
| 10 | Khatlon (R) | 22 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 38 | −26 | 17 | Relegation to Tajik First Division |

### Results

| Home \ Away | CPD | KHA | KHF | KJD | REG |
| CSKA Pamir | | 1–0 | | 0–0 | |
| Khatlon | | | 1–3 | | 0–1 |
| Khosilot Farkhor | 0–0 | | | | 0–1 |
| Khujand | | 0–0 | 0–0 | | |
| Regar-TadAZ | 1–1 | | | 1–1 | |

### Results by round

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| CSKA Pamir | W | D | D | D | P |
| Khatlon | L | P | L | D | L |
| Khosilot Farkhor | L | D | P | D | W |
| Khujand | P | D | D | D | D |
| Regar-TadAZ | W | D | W | P | D |

## Season statistics
### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Mukhammad Naskov for Ravshan Kulob against Kuktosh Rudaki. (1 April 2023)

### Top scorers

    As of matches played 18 December 2023
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Alisher Dzhalilov | Istiklol | 13 |
| 2 | Azizbek Sultonov | Kuktosh Rudaki | 10 |
| 3 | Manuchekhr Dzhalilov | Istiklol | 9 |
| 3 | Sundaya Longji Song | Kuktosh Rudaki | 9 |
| 5 | Ehson Panjshanbe | Istiklol | 8 |
| 5 | Bakhtiyor Zaripov | Eskhata Khujand | 8 |
| 7 | Shavkati Hotam | Fayzkand/CSKA Pamir | 7 |
| 8 | Muhiddin Odilov | Kuktosh Rudaki | 6 |
| 8 | Alisher Shukurov | Kuktosh Rudaki | 6 |
| 8 | Senin Sebai | Istiklol | 6 |
Own goals:
* Safialohi Nazarzoda – Khatlon vs Kuktosh Rudaki 25 April 2023
* Bonnah Derrick – Khatlon vs Istiklol 24 May 2023
* Yokubdzhon Akhmedov – Regar-TadAZ vs Khosilot Farkhor 4 June 2023
* Roman Khibaba – Eskhata vs Istiklol 30 June 2023
* Sulaimon Sobirov – Kuktosh Rudaki vs Khosilot Farkhor 12 August 2023

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| Bakhtiyor Zaripov | Eskhata Khujand | CSKA Pamir | 3–2 | 2 April 2023 |
| Ehson Panjshanbe | Istiklol | Khatlon | 5–0 | 10 May 2023 |
| Azizbek Sultonov | Kuktosh Rudaki | Eskhata Khujand | 2–4 | 18 May 2023 |

### Attendances

    As of match played 19 August 2023

#### By round

2023 Tajikistan Higher League Attendances :
| Round | Total | GP. | Avg. Per Game |
| Round 1 | 12,200 | 5 | 2,440 |
| Round 2 | 5,600 | 5 | 1,120 |
| Round 3 | 16,900 | 5 | 3,380 |
| Round 4 | 7,500 | 5 | 1,500 |
| Round 5 | 22,300 | 5 | 4,460 |
| Round 6 | 13,600 | 5 | 2,720 |
| Round 7 | 19,200 | 5 | 9,600 |
| Round 8 | 16,850 | 5 | 3,370 |
| Round 9 | 10,100 | 5 | 2,020 |
| Round 10 | 16,800 | 5 | 3,360 |
| Round 11 | 18,750 | 5 | 3,750 |
| Round 12 | 18,100 | 5 | 3,620 |
| Round 13 | 18,700 | 4 | 4,675 |
| Round 14 | 3,800 | 5 | 760 |
| Round 15 | 17,300 | 5 | 3,460 |
| Round 16 | 14,300 | 5 | 2,860 |
| Round 17 | 17,850 | 5 | 3,570 |
| Round 18 | 14,340 | 5 | 7,170 |
| Total | 264,190 | 89 | 2,968 |

#### By team

| Team \ Match played | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total | Average |
| CSKA Pamir | — | 1,000 | — | 200 | — | 1,000 | — | 500 | — | 150 | — | | 300 | — | — | 500 | — | 640 | 4,290 | 536 |
| Eskhata | 200 | — | 3,700 | — | 3,200 | — | 3,000 | — | 3,500 | — | 6,000 | — | — | 5,500 | 2,700 | — | 1,000 | — | 28,800 | 3,200 |
| Fayzkand | — | — | 1,000 | — | — | 200 | — | 1,000 | — | 100 | — | 600 | — | 500 | 200 | — | 850 | 1,500 | 5,750 | 639 |
| Istiklol | 1,500 | 1,500 | — | 500 | 400 | — | 250 | — | 1,000 | — | 6,200 | — | 200 | — | — | 300 | — | — | 11,850 | 1,317 |
| Khatlon | — | 100 | — | 1,200 | 4,000 | — | — | 2,000 | — | 7,500 | 3,000 | — | 1,000 | — | — | 2,000 | — | 2,000 | 22,800 | 2,533 |
| Khosilot Farkhor | 3,000 | — | 4,000 | — | — | 6,000 | — | 5,000 | — | 7,000 | — | 5,500 | — | 7,000 | 6,500 | — | 6,000 | — | 50,000 | 5,556 |
| Khujand | — | 1,800 | — | 3,800 | 4,500 | — | 2,600 | — | 3,500 | — | 2,700 | — | 1,500 | — | — | 4,500 | — | 4,200 | 29,100 | 3,233 |
| Kuktosh Rudaki | — | 1,200 | — | — | — | 3,000 | — | 1,600 | — | 4,000 | — | 5,600 | — | 3,800 | 3,900 | 7,000 | — | 6,000 | 36,100 | 4,011 |
| Ravshan | 6,000 | — | 6,500 | — | — | 9,000 | 10,000 | — | 6,800 | — | — | 7,000 | — | 5,500 | 4,000 | — | 8,000 | — | 62,800 | 6,978 |
| Regar-TadAZ | 1,500 | — | 1,700 | 1,800 | 1,500 | — | 1,000 | — | 2,000 | — | 200 | — | 800 | — | — | — | 2,000 | — | 12,500 | 1,389 |

### Annual awards

| Award | Winner | Club |
| Player of the year | Rustam Yatimov | Istiklol |
| Coach of the year | Igor Cherevchenko | Istiklol |
| Top goalscorer | Alisher Dzhalilov | Istiklol |
| Foreign player of the year | Yevhen Hrytsenko | Ravshan Kulob |
| Best goalkeeper | Rustam Yatimov | Istiklol |
| Best defender | Kholmurod Nazarov | Ravshan Kulob |
| Best midfielder | Amadoni Kamolov | Istiklol |
| Best striker | Manuchekhr Dzhalilov | Istiklol |