# 2023–24 Sabah FC season

The Sabah FC 2023–24 season was Sabah's sixth Azerbaijan Premier League season, and their seventh season in existence.

## Season overview

On 21 June, Sabah announced the signing of Rahman Dashdamirov from Shamakhi.
On 28 June, Sabah announced the signing of Sofian Chakla from Ponferradina, with Jearl Margaritha singing from TOP Oss the following day.
On 7 July, Sabah announced the signing of Vincent Thill from Vorskla Poltava.
On 25 July, Sabah announced the signing of Marouane Hadhoudi from Raja Casablanca.
On 28 August, Sabah announced the signing of Ayaz Guliyev from Khimki to a three-year contract.
On 5 September, Sabah announced the signing of Jesse Sekidika from Eyüpspor to a two-year contract, with the option of an additional year. The following day, 6 September, Sabah announced the signing of Kaheem Parris on loan from Dynamo Kyiv until the end of the season.
On 13 September, Sabah announced the signing of Ishak Belfodil from Al-Gharafa to a two-year contract with the option of a third year.
On 26 December, Ceyhun Nuriyev left Sabah to sign for Zira. Later the same day, Sabah extended their contract with Nijat Mehbaliyev until June 2026.
On 4 January, Aleksey Isayev left the club to sign for Qarabağ.
On 1 February, Sabah announced that Murad Musayev had left his role as Head Coach after his resignation had been accepted.
On 5 March 2024, Sabah announced the appointment of Krunoslav Rendulić as their new Head Coach, on an 18-month contract.

## Squad

    As of match played 25 May 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Yusif Imanov | GK | (2002-09-27)27 September 2002 (aged 21) | Academy | 2020 | | 74 | 0 |
| 16 | Rustam Samiqullin | GK | (2002-12-23)23 December 2002 (aged 21) | Academy | 2020 | | 4 | 0 |
| 55 | Nijat Mehbaliyev | GK | (2000-09-11)11 September 2000 (aged 23) | Qarabağ | 2020 | 2026 | 17 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Amin Seydiyev | DF | (1998-11-15)15 November 1998 (aged 25) | Gabala | 2020 | | 127 | 4 |
| 3 | Jon Irazabal | DF | (1996-11-28)28 November 1996 (aged 27) | SD Amorebieta | 2022 | 2025 | 59 | 5 |
| 5 | Rahman Dashdamirov | DF | (1999-10-20)20 October 1999 (aged 24) | Shamakhi | 2023 | 2025 | 14 | 0 |
| 7 | Bojan Letić | DF | (1992-12-21)21 December 1992 (aged 31) | Unattached | 2022 | | 82 | 6 |
| 17 | Tellur Mutallimov | DF | (1995-04-08)8 April 1995 (aged 29) | Sumgayit | 2022 | 2024 | 63 | 3 |
| 24 | Marouane Hadhoudi | DF | (1992-02-13)13 February 1992 (aged 32) | Raja Casablanca | 2023 | 2024 (+1) | 18 | 0 |
| 40 | Rauf Rustamli | DF | (2003-01-11)11 January 2003 (aged 21) | Gabala | 2023 | | 2 | 0 |
| 44 | Sofian Chakla | DF | (1993-09-02)2 September 1993 (aged 30) | Ponferradina | 2023 | 2025 | 38 | 3 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 4 | Elvin Jamalov | MF | (1995-02-04)4 February 1995 (aged 29) | Zira | 2021 | | 95 | 2 |
| 6 | Abdulakh Khaybulayev | MF | (2001-08-19)19 August 2001 (aged 22) | Academy | 2021 | | 21 | 0 |
| 8 | Ayaz Guliyev | MF | (1996-11-27)27 November 1996 (aged 27) | Khimki | 2023 | 2026 | 25 | 1 |
| 9 | Anatoliy Nuriyev | MF | (1996-05-20)20 May 1996 (aged 28) | Kolos Kovalivka | 2022 | 2025 | 70 | 10 |
| 10 | Namiq Ələsgərov | MF | (1995-02-03)3 February 1995 (aged 29) | Bursaspor | 2022 | 2025 | 54 | 5 |
| 11 | Cristian Ceballos | MF | (1992-12-03)3 December 1992 (aged 31) | Qatar | 2021 | 2024 | 31 | 5 |
| 12 | Vincent Thill | MF | (2000-02-04)4 February 2000 (aged 24) | Vorskla Poltava | 2023 | 2025 | 22 | 2 |
| 15 | Christian | MF | (1989-06-14)14 June 1989 (aged 34) | Académica de Coimbra | 2022 | | 71 | 4 |
| 21 | Ildar Alekperov | MF | (2001-04-07)7 April 2001 (aged 23) | Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk | 2021 | 2024 | 34 | 0 |
| 22 | Seymur Mammadov | MF | (2003-05-29)29 May 2003 (aged 20) | Academy | 2022 | | 3 | 1 |
| 28 | Kaheem Parris | MF | (2000-01-06)6 January 2000 (aged 24) | on loan from Dynamo Kyiv | 2023 | 2024 | 31 | 4 |
| 70 | Jesse Sekidika | MF | (1996-07-14)14 July 1996 (aged 27) | Eyüpspor | 2023 | 2025(+1) | 34 | 7 |
| 88 | Khayal Aliyev | MF | (2004-02-18)18 February 2004 (aged 20) | Academy | 2023 | | 13 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 14 | Ishak Belfodil | FW | (1992-01-12)12 January 1992 (aged 32) | Al-Gharafa | 2022 | 2024 | 21 | 5 |
| 18 | Davit Volkovi | FW | (1995-06-03)3 June 1995 (aged 28) | Zira | 2022 | 2024 | 71 | 19 |
| 19 | Emmanuel Apeh | FW | (1996-10-25)25 October 1996 (aged 27) | Tenerife | 2022 | 2024 | 75 | 16 |
| 27 | Jearl Margaritha | FW | (2000-04-10)10 April 2000 (aged 24) | TOP Oss | 2023 | 2027 | 23 | 1 |
| 33 | Jamal Jafarov | FW | (2002-02-25)25 February 2002 (aged 22) | Anzhi Makhachkala | 2020 | 2025 | 23 | 0 |
| 90 | Timilehin Oluwaseun | FW | (2005-06-10)10 June 2005 (aged 18) | Dino SC | 2024 | | 2 | 0 |
| Out on loan ||||||||||
| 6 | Shakir Seyidov | MF | (2000-12-31)31 December 2000 (aged 23) | Academy | 2018 | | 49 | 2 |
| | Abdulla Rzayev | DF | (2002-03-12)12 March 2002 (aged 22) | Academy | 2020 | | 17 | 0 |
| | Idris Ingilabli | MF | (2001-10-06)6 October 2001 (aged 22) | Gabala | 2020 | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| | Veysal Rzayev | MF | (2002-10-24)24 October 2002 (aged 21) | Academy | 2020 | | 17 | 0 |
| Left during the season ||||||||||
| 10 | Aleksey Isayev | MF | (1995-11-09)9 November 1995 (aged 28) | Sumgayit | 2020 | 2023 | 109 | 12 |
| 20 | Joy-Lance Mickels | MF | (1994-03-29)29 March 1994 (aged 30) | MVV Maastricht | 2021 | 2023 | 69 | 33 |
| 29 | Ceyhun Nuriyev | MF | (2001-03-30)30 March 2001 (aged 23) | Academy | 2020 | | 54 | 4 |
| 99 | Higor Gabriel | DF | (1999-04-28)28 April 1999 (aged 25) | Unattached | 2022 | 2024 | 2 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 21 June 2023 | DF | Rahman Dashdamirov | Shamakhi | Undisclosed |
| 28 June 2023 | DF | Sofian Chakla | Ponferradina | Undisclosed |
| 29 June 2023 | FW | Jearl Margaritha | TOP Oss | Undisclosed |
| 7 July 2023 | MF | Vincent Thill | Vorskla Poltava | Undisclosed |
| 25 July 2023 | DF | Marouane Hadhoudi | Raja Casablanca | Undisclosed |
| 28 August 2023 | MF | Ayaz Guliyev | Khimki | Undisclosed |
| 5 September 2023 | MF | Jesse Sekidika | Eyüpspor | Undisclosed |
| 13 September 2023 | FW | Ishak Belfodil | Al-Gharafa | Undisclosed |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| 6 September 2023 | MF | | Kaheem Parris | Dynamo Kyiv | End of season | |

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 9 July 2023 | FW | Kamran Guliyev | Sumgayit | Undisclosed |
| 14 August 2023 | MF | Joy-Lance Mickels | Al Faisaly | Undisclosed |
| 26 December 2023 | MF | Ceyhun Nuriyev | Zira | Undisclosed |
| 4 January 2024 | MF | Aleksey Isayev | Qarabağ | Undisclosed |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 28 January 2023 | MF | | Abdulakh Khaybulayev | Samtredia | 31 December 2023 | |
| 25 August 2023 | MF | | Shakir Seyidov | Kapaz | End of season | |

### Released

| Date | Position | Name | Joined | Date |
| 24 June 2023 | DF | Zurab Ochihava | Gabala | 24 June 2023 |
| 30 June 2023 | DF | Abdoulaye Ba | Tondela | 24 July 2023 |
| 5 July 2023 | DF | Bəxtiyar Həsənalızadə | Tuzlaspor | |
| 23 September 2023 | DF | Higor Gabriel | Hibernians | 31 January 2024 |

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Premier League | 6 August 2023 | 25 May 2024 | Matchday 1 | 3rd | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 50 | 40 | +10 | 047.22 |
| Azerbaijan Cup | 18 December 2023 | 8 February 2024 | Last 16 | Quarterfinal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 066.67 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 26 July 2023 | 17 August 2023 | Second qualifying round | Third qualifying round | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 075.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 43 | 22 | 7 | 14 | 65 | 56 | +9 | 051.16 |
Last updated: 25 May 2024 Source: Competitions

### Premier League
#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 25 May 2024. Source: See Results

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Ground | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A |
| Result | W | D | L | L | L | D | D | D | W | L | W | L | W | L | W | W | L | L | D | W | D | D | W | L | W | W | W | L | L | W | W | W | W | L | W | W |
| Position | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
* ↑ matchday 3
* ↑ matchday 4
* ↑ matchday 5
* ↑ matchday 6
* ↑ matchday 7
* ↑ matchday 8
* ↑ matchday 9
* ↑ matchday 10
* ↑ matchday 2

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Qarabağ (C) | 36 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 97 | 37 | +60 | 83 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Zira | 36 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 33 | 22 | +11 | 58 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Sabah | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 50 | 40 | +10 | 58 | Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round |
| 4 | Sumgayit | 36 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 37 | 38 | −1 | 57 | Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round |
| 5 | Neftçi | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 51 | 40 | +11 | 56 | |
* 1 2 Zira are ahead of Sabah on head-to-head points: Zira 1–0 Sabah, Sabah 0–1 Zira, Zira 0–1 Sabah, Sabah 0–1 Zira
* ↑ The 2023–24 Azerbaijan Cup winners qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round. Since the cup winners (Qarabağ) qualified based on league position, the Europa League spot was passed to the second-placed team, and the second Conference League second round spot was passed to the fourth-placed team.

### Europa Conference League
#### Qualifying rounds
## Squad statistics

    As of match played 25 May 2024

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa Conference League | Europa Conference League |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | AZE | Yusif İmanov | 31 | 0 | 23+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | AZE | Amin Seydiyev | 39 | 2 | 32 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Jon Irazabal | 28 | 3 | 24+1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | AZE | Elvin Camalov | 31 | 0 | 23+3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | AZE | Rahman Dashdamirov | 14 | 0 | 8+3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | AZE | Abdulakh Khaybulayev | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | DF | BIH | Bojan Letić | 34 | 5 | 27+2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | RUS | Ayaz Guliyev | 25 | 1 | 13+11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | MF | AZE | Anatoliy Nuriyev | 36 | 6 | 16+13 | 6 | 1+2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | AZE | Namiq Ələsgərov | 31 | 3 | 14+11 | 3 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | LUX | Vincent Thill | 22 | 2 | 13+3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | ALG | Ishak Belfodil | 21 | 5 | 13+5 | 3 | 1+2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | BRA | Christian | 37 | 2 | 20+10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 16 | GK | AZE | Rustam Samiqullin | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | AZE | Tellur Mutallimov | 32 | 3 | 15+12 | 3 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | GEO | Davit Volkovi | 33 | 7 | 11+17 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3+1 | 1 |
| 19 | FW | NGA | Emmanuel Apeh | 38 | 5 | 15+16 | 3 | 2+1 | 1 | 1+3 | 1 |
| 21 | MF | AZE | Ildar Alekperov | 5 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | MAR | Marouane Hadhoudi | 18 | 0 | 13+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | CUW | Jearl Margaritha | 23 | 1 | 6+12 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | JAM | Kaheem Parris | 35 | 4 | 24+9 | 4 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | AZE | Jamal Jafarov | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | DF | AZE | Rauf Rustamli | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | DF | MAR | Sofian Chakla | 38 | 3 | 30+2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 55 | GK | AZE | Nijat Mehbaliyev | 12 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 70 | MF | NGA | Jesse Sekidika | 34 | 7 | 26+5 | 5 | 2+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 88 | MF | AZE | Khayal Aliyev | 13 | 0 | 4+8 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 90 | FW | NGA | Timilehin Oluwaseun | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players away on loan: ||||||||||||
| Players who left Sabah during the season: ||||||||||||
| 10 | MF | AZE | Aleksey Isayev | 22 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 20 | MF | GER | Joy-Lance Mickels | 3 | 2 | 0+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 |
| 29 | MF | AZE | Ceyhun Nuriyev | 5 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Number | Name | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa Conference League | Total |
| 1 | FW | 18 | Davit Volkovi | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 1 | MF | 70 | Jesse Sekidika | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | MF | 9 | Anatoliy Nuriyev | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | FW | 14 | Ishak Belfodil | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | DF | 7 | Bojan Letić | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | FW | 19 | Emmanuel Apeh | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 7 | MF | 28 | Kaheem Parris | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | DF | 44 | Sofian Chakla | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | DF | 17 | Tellur Mutallimov | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | DF | 3 | Jon Irazabal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | MF | 10 | Namiq Ələsgərov | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 12 | MF | 12 | Vincent Thill | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | MF | 15 | Christian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | DF | 2 | Amin Seydiyev | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | FW | 20 | Joy-Lance Mickels | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | MF | 10 | Aleksey Isayev | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | | | Own goal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 18 | MF | 8 | Ayaz Guliyev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | FW | 27 | Jearl Margaritha | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 50 | 9 | 6 | 65 |

### Clean sheets

| Place | Position | Number | Name | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa Conference League | Total |
| 1 | GK | 1 | Yusif Imanov | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 | GK | 55 | Nijat Mehbaliyev | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| | | | TOTALS | 11 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
Nijat Mehbaliyev & Yusif Imanov both played in Sabah's 4-0 victory over Sabail on 10 December 2023

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa Conference League | Europa Conference League | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Yusif Imanov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Amin Seydiyev | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 3 | DF | Jon Irazabal | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 4 | MF | Elvin Camalov | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | Abdulakh Khaybulayev | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | DF | Bojan Letić | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | Ayaz Guliyev | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | MF | Anatoliy Nuriyev | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Namiq Ələsgərov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | Vincent Thill | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Christian | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Tellur Mutallimov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | Davit Volkovi | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 19 | FW | Emmanuel Apeh | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 24 | DF | Marouane Hadhoudi | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Jearl Margaritha | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Kaheem Parris | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 44 | DF | Sofian Chakla | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 70 | MF | Jesse Sekidika | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 88 | MF | Khayal Aliyev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players away on loan: ||||||||||||
| Players who left Sabah during the season: ||||||||||||
| 10 | MF | Aleksey Isayev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Joy-Lance Mickels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | Ceyhun Nuriyev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 87 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 107 | 8 |