Wikipedia

2023–24 Maltese FA Trophy

The 2023–24 Maltese FA Trophy, officially named IZIBET FA Trophy due to sponsorship reasons, was the 86th edition of the football cup competition, the FA Trophy. The winners earned a place in the second qualifying round of the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League.

2023–24 Maltese FA Trophy
Sliema Wanderers lifting the Maltese FA Trophy after the final.
Tournament details
CountryMalta
Dates12 December 2023 - 12 May 2024
Teams42
Defending championsBirkirkara
Final positions
ChampionsSliema Wanderers
Runner-upFloriana
Tournament statistics
Matches played41
Goals scored146 (3.56 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Andre Carlos Penha Da Costa (4 Goals)

All statistics correct as of 12 May 2024.

Birkirkara were the defending champions. But were eliminated in the Semi-Finals by Sliema Wanderers

Sliema Wanderers won the cup (their twenty-second Maltese FA Trophy win) on 12 May 2024, defeating Floriana 4–2 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.

Preliminary round

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Ten preliminary round matches were played on 12 and 13 December 2023, featuring twelve teams from the 2023–24 Maltese Challenge League, six teams from the 2023–24 Gozo First Division, and two teams from the 2023–24 Maltese National Amateur League.

The draw was held on 7 November 2023.[1] The four remaining Maltese Challenge League teams (Attard, Luqa St. Andrew's, Żabbar St. Patrick, and Żurrieq), the two remaining teams from the Gozo First Division (Għajnsielem and Xewkija Tigers), and two teams from the Maltese National Amateur League (Marsaskala and Mġarr United) received byes.

12 December 2023 Kirkop United (3)1–2 Lija Athletic (2) Hamrun
20:30 CET
  • Matthew Borg   45'
  • Erjon Beu   80' (pen.)
  • Leonardo Agius   90+5'
 Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Referee: Daniel Portelli
13 December 2023 Melita (2)5–7 (a.e.t.) Qala Saints  (1) Mosta
11:15 CET
  • Benjamin Cassar   81'
  • Andre Carlos Penha Da Costa   84', 102', 113' (pen.), 120+2'
  • Sintayehu Curmi   12'
  • Igor Nedeljković   87' (pen.), 96', 120+1'
  • Joao Vitor Ferrari Silva   92'
  • Nathan Chukwudi Njoku   105'
  • Lucas Baretto Da Silva   111'
 Stadium: Charles Abela Memorial Stadium
Referee: Andrea Naudi
13 December 2023 Victoria Wanderers  (1)1–2 Marsa (2) Kerċem
12:00 CET
  • Caique Silvio Souza Da Silva   2'
  • Paul Lapira   15'
  • Dylan Agius   18' (pen.)
 Stadium: Kerċem Ajax Stadium
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
13 December 2023 Msida Saint-Joseph (2) 5–1Xagħra United  (1)Mosta
13:45 CET
  • Victor Ifeanyi Mbata   42', 45+1' (pen.), 53'
  • David Chidera Ejiofor   66'
  • Lian Xuereb   80'
  • Daniel Mesa Pineros   76'
 Stadium: Charles Abela Memorial Stadium
Referee: Wayne Sammut
13 December 2023 Żejtun Corinthians (2) 3–2 (a.e.t.)Kercem Ajax  (1)Hamrun
14:00 CET
  • Matthew Mifsud   90+2'
  • Jairo Santos De Oliveira Filho   96'
  • Fahad Bardiro   118'
  • Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos   75', 91'
 Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Referee: Sandro Spiteri
13 December 2023 Nadur Youngsters  (1) 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)		St. Andrews (2)Kerċem
14:30 CET
  • Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio   38'
  • Joseph Zammit   120'
  • Christian Mercieca   42'
  • William James England   117'
 Stadium: Kerċem Ajax Stadium
Referee: Darryl Agius
Penalties
  • Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio  
  • Stefan Cassar  
  • Joseph Zammit  
  • Ian Xuereb  
  • Marcelo Jr Barbosa  
  •   Brayan Samuel Nyetam Junior
  •   Nicholas Galea
  •   Luke Anthony Borg
  •   William James England
13 December 2023 St. George's (3)1–5 Swieqi United (2) Hamrun
16:30 CET
  • Rudy Cassar   62'
  • Gilberto Martins Leite Carrara   4' (pen.)
  • Salis Ibrahim   38', 61'
  • Robinson Blandon Rendon   74' (pen.), 85'
 Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Referee: Ezekiel Barbara
13 December 2023 Oratory Youths  (1)0–2 Fgura United (2) Kerċem
17:00 CET
  • Dylan Caruana   10'
  • Tobi Akiti   11'
 Stadium: Kerċem Ajax Stadium
Referee: Jo-Anna Vassallo
13 December 2023 Senglea Athletic (2)2–2 (a.e.t.)
(2–3 p)		 Pietà Hotspurs (2) Ta' Qali
19:00 CET
  • Steven Meilak   76'
  • Alilu Issaka   119'
  • Kian Leonardi   76', 117'
 Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
13 December 2023 Tarxien Rainbows (2)1–2 Żebbuġ Rangers (2) Hamrun
19:00 CET
  • Bradley Sciberras   1'
  • Bradley Sciberras   12', 24'
 Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Referee: Anthony Paul Vella

Round of 32

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Sixteen matches played between 11–15 January, featuring the ten preliminary round winners, the 14 teams from the 2023–24 Maltese Premier League, and the eight teams given preliminary round byes.

The draw for the Round of 32 and Round of 16 was held on 22 December 2023. The draws were held by Malta FA Director of Football Operations Stephen Azzopardi together with former Malta national team player Justin Haber and Franco Degabriele Chief Commercial Officer of IZIBET.

11 January 2024 Santa Lucia (1) 2–0Marsa (2)Ta' Qali
20:30 CET
  • Alessio Piazza   16'
  • Aleksa Mrdja   48'
 Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
13 January 2024 Birkirkara (1) 3–1Attard (2)Ta' Qali
14:00 CET
  • Camilo Del Castillo Escobar   67'
 Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Slawomir Olucha
13 January 2024 Floriana (1) 2–0Naxxar Lions (1)Paola
14:00 CET
Stadium: Tony Bezzina Stadium
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
13 January 2024 Żabbar St. Patrick (2)1–2 Żebbuġ Rangers (2) Ħamrun
14:00 CET
  • Brian Ariel Gambarte   43'
Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Referee: Joseph Scerri
13 January 2024 Marsaxlokk (1) 5–0Żejtun Corinthians (2)Paola
16:30 CET
  • Yuri   26'
  • Sunday Akinbule   36'
  • Samuel Boakye   52'
  • Jacob Walker   65'
  • Diego Pires Dall'Oca   80'
 Stadium: Tony Bezzina Stadium
Referee: Glen Tonna
13 January 2024 Mosta (1) 5–1Pietà Hotspurs (2)Ta' Qali
16:30 CET
  • Christian Ndubuisi Nnaji   23', 54'
  • Precious Linus Tenebe   38', 49'
  • Jean Paul Farrugia   69'
  • Hibiki Mochizuki   32'
 Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
13 January 2024 Msida Saint-Joseph (2)1–3 Mġarr United (3) Ħamrun
16:30 CET
  • Nicholas Schembri   10'
  • Saint Ebisindor Christian   26', 90'
 Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Referee: Vladimir Rizoski
13 January 2024 Ħamrun Spartans (1) 3–0Lija Athletic (2)Ta' Qali
19:00 CET
Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
14 January 2024 Balzan (1) 2–1Żurrieq (2)Ta' Qali
11:00 CET
Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Darryl Agius
14 January 2024 Nadur Youngsters  (1)1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)		 Sirens (1) Xewkija
13:00 CET
  • Marcelo Jr Barbosa   31' (pen.)
  • Bismark Asare   52'
 Stadium: Gozo Stadium
Referee: Alex Johnson
Penalties
  • Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio  
  • Stefan Cassar  
  • Ian Xuereb  
  • Joseph Mario Vella  
  • Marcelo Pereira Muniz  
  •   Kwasi Donsu
  •   Sacha Borg
  •   Bismark Asare
  •   Daniel Agius
  •   Hafiz Mohammed Akadom
14 January 2024 Hibernians (1) 2–0Qala Saints  (1)Ta' Qali
14:00 CET
Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Andrea Sciriha
14 January 2024 Luqa St. Andrew's (2)1–2 Swieqi United (2) Ħamrun
14:00 CET
Stadium: Victor Tedesco Stadium
Referee: Andrea Naudi
14 January 2024 Xewkija Tigers  (1)0–3 Gudja United (1) Xewkija
15:30 CET
Stadium: Gozo Stadium
Referee: Daniel Casha
14 January 2024 Valletta (1) 7–1Għajnsielem  (1)Ta' Qali
16:30 CET
  • Godwin Emmanuel   51'
 Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
14 January 2024 Sliema Wanderers (1) 3–0Marsaskala (3)Ta' Qali
19:00 CET
Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Emanuel Grech
15 January 2024 Gzira United (1) 2–0Fgura United (2)Ta' Qali
18:00 CET
  • Lucas Ribeiro De Oliveira   64', 72'
 Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Daniel Portelli

Round of 16

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Eight matches were played on 6–8 February, featuring the 16 Round of 32 winners.

The draw for the Round of 32 and Round of 16 was held on 22 December 2023. The draws were held by Malta FA Director of Football Operations Stephen Azzopardi together with former Malta national team player Justin Haber and Franco Degabriele Chief Commercial Officer of IZIBET. The round includes one team from the third tier, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition: Mġarr United.

6 February 2024 Birkirkara (1) 1–0 (a.e.t.)Sirens (1)Paola
18:00 CET
  • Omar Elouni   113'
 Stadium: Tony Bezzina Stadium
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
6 February 2024 Floriana (1) 7–1Żebbuġ Rangers (2)Ta' Qali
18:15 CET
  • Duvan Mosquera Torres   45'
 Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Daniel Casha
6 February 2024 Mosta (1) 2–1Valletta (1)Paola
20:30 CET
  • Maxmillian İhekuna   17'
  • Chidera Nwoga   33'
Stadium: Tony Bezzina Stadium
Referee: Glen Tonna
6 February 2024 Marsaxlokk (1) 3–0Swieqi United (2)Ta' Qali
20:45 CET
Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Darryl Agius
7 February 2024 Gzira United (1) 1–0Hibernians (1)Ta' Qali
18:00 CET
  • Thaylor Aldama   30'
 Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium
Referee: Alex Johnson
7 February 2024 Santa Lucia (1)3–3 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)		 Mġarr United (3) Ta' Qali
20:15 CET
  • Saint Ebisindor Christian   38'
  • Joseph Paul Zammit   76', 100'
 Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Ezekiel Barbara
Penalties
  • Gonzalo Nicolas Virano  
  • Adam Bradshaw  
  • Jurgen Pisani  
  • Carlos Gabriel  
  • Daniel Letherby  
  •   Kane Paul Farrugia
  •   Saint Ebisindor Christian
  •   Gordon Saliba
  •   Liam Portelli
  •   Nicholas Schembri
7 February 2024 Sliema Wanderers (1) 1–0 (a.e.t.)Balzan (1)Ta' Qali
20:30 CET
Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
8 February 2024 Ħamrun Spartans (1) 3–0Gudja United (1)Ta' Qali
20:30 CET
Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Emanuel Grech

Quarter-finals

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The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 5 March 2024. The draws were held on Tuesday by Malta FA Director Football Operations Stephen Azzopardi assisted by former Malta national football team players Roderick Briffa and IZIBET Brand Ambassador Andrew Hogg. Four matches were played on 30 March 2024, featuring the eight Round of 16 winners. The round included one team from the third tier, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition: Mġarr United.

30 March 2024 Gzira United (1) 2–0Mġarr United (3)Ta' Qali
14:00 CEST
  • Lucas Macula   83'
  • Thaylor Aldama   90+1'
 Stadium: Centenary Stadium
Referee: Alex Johnson
30 March 2024 Marsaxlokk (1)0–2 Floriana (1) Paola
14:00 CEST
Stadium: Tony Bezzina Stadium
Referee: Philip Farrugia
30 March 2024 Birkirkara (1) 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		Ħamrun Spartans (1)Ta' Qali
15:00 CEST
Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Penalties
30 March 2024 Mosta (1)2–2 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)		 Sliema Wanderers (1) Paola
16:30 CEST
  • Zachary Brincat   3'
  • Chidera Henry Nwoga   118'
  • Lydon Micallef   78', 116'
 Stadium: Tony Bezzina Stadium
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Penalties
  • Mohamed Abdulahi Awad  
  • Lydon Micallef  
  • Neil Frendo  
  • Gustavo Alcino  
  • Geoffrey Edwin Acheampong  

Semi-finals

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The draw for the semi-finals was held on 28 April 2024. The draws were held live on TVMSports by Malta FA Director of Football Operations Stephen Azzopardi together with Franco Degabriele Chief Commercial Officer of IZIBET. Two matches were played on 7 and 8 May, featuring the four quarter-final winners (four teams from the 2023–24 Maltese Premier League).

7 May 2024 Floriana (1) 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		Gzira United (1)Ta' Qali
19:00 CEST
  • Gabriel Bohrer   12'
  • Zachary Cassar   37'
 Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Penalties
  • Gabriel Bohrer  
  • Jackson Mendoza  
  • Ewertton Jose Costa Silva  
  • Thaylor Aldama  
  • Thiago Espindola De Paula  
8 May 2024 Birkirkara (1)0–1 (a.e.t.) Sliema Wanderers (1) Ta' Qali
19:00 CEST
Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium
Referee: Ishmael Barbara

Final

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The final was played on 12 May. Floriana and Sliema Wanderers met in the Maltese FA Trophy final sixteen times back in 1935, 1936, 1938, 1945, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965, 1972, 1974, 1979, 1993, 2017, and 2023. Between them in the finals, Floriana won nine times and Sliema Wanderers won six times. The last time Floriana and Sliema Wanderers met together in Maltese FA Trophy was during the 2016–17 season in the final when Floriana beat Sliema Wanderers by 2–0.

12 May 2024 Floriana (1)0–0 (a.e.t.)
(2–4 p)		 Sliema Wanderers (1) Ta' Qali
16:00 CEST Stadium: Ta' Qali National Stadium
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Penalties
  • Geoffrey Edwin Acheampong  
  • Mohamed Abdulahi Awad  
  • Gustavo Alcino  
  • Lydon Micallef  
  • Joseph Minala  

Top scorers

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As of 12 May 2024
Rank Player Club Goals
1   Kemar Reid Floriana 4
  Andre Carlos Penha Da Costa Melita
3   Matías García Floriana 3
  Gianluca Zammit Gudja United
  Uroš Đuranović Ħamrun Spartans
  Sunday Akinbule Marsaxlokk
  Saint Ebisindor Christian Mgarr United
  Victor Ifeanyi Mbata Msida Saint-Joseph
  Igor Nedeljkovic Qala Saints
  Federico Falcone Valletta

Television rights

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The following matches were broadcast live on TVMSports+:

Round TVMSports+
Round of 32 Mosta vs Pietà Hotspurs, Hibernians vs Qala Saints
Round of 16 Gżira United vs Hibernians, Sliema Wanderers vs Balzan
Quarter-finals Birkirkara vs Ħamrun Spartans
Semi-finals Floriana vs Gzira United, Birkirkara vs Sliema Wanderers
Final Floriana vs Sliema Wanderers

References

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  1. ^ Busuttil, Antoine (2023-11-07). "IZIBET FA Trophy preliminary round draw". MaltaFootball. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
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