The 2022–23 LEN Challenger Cup was the inaugural edition of a

water polo Water polo is a competitive sport, competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the water polo ball, ball into the oppo ...

competition organised by the

Ligue Européenne de Natation European Aquatics (formerly , , popularly known by its acronym LEN) is the European governing body for aquatic sports affiliated to World Aquatics — it is the Continental Association for Europe. It was formally organized in 1927 in Bologna, ...

(LEN). It acts as the third tier, below the

LEN Champions League The European Aquatics Champions League is the top-tier European professional water polo club competition with teams from up to 18 countries. It is organized by the Ligue Européenne de Natation. The competition started in 1963 as European Cup. A ...

and the

LEN Euro Cup The European Aquatics Euro Cup is the second-tier European water polo club competition run by the European Aquatics for those clubs who did not qualify for the European Aquatics Champions League. The cup was inaugurated in 1992. From 2024, afte ...

. GS Apollon Smyrnis of Greece became the first champions, defeating

CN Terrassa Club Natació Terrassa is a Catalan sports club from Terrassa, Catalonia. It was founded in 1932 as a water polo and swimming club, and later created athletics, basketball, field hockey, figure skating, frontenis, football, football tennis, jud ...

of Spain in the final.

Creation

In June 2022,

LEN European Aquatics (formerly , , popularly known by its acronym LEN) is the European governing body for aquatic sports affiliated to World Aquatics — it is the Continental Association for Europe. It was formally organized in 1927 in Bologna, a ...

announced the introduction of the LEN Challenger Cup. This tournament was designed to help developing countries and club grow and play more European club games.

Format

Fifteen teams, who had been eliminated from the Champions League and Euro Cup, were divided into three groups of four and one group of three. The groups were held in one country. At the end of the group stage, the top two teams advanced to the Knockout Stage. In the Knockout Stage, the ties were played in a home and away format.

Composition of teams

( CL: Eliminated in Champions League; EC: Eliminated in Euro Cup).

Schedule

Rounds and dates

Draw

The draw took place on the 26th of October.

Group Stage

Group A

*11–13 November 2022, Novaky,

Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...

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Group B

*12–13 November 2022,

Terrassa Terrassa () is a city in central-eastern Catalonia and in the province of Barcelona (Spain). It is one of the two capitals of Vallès Occidental county, being the larger in both area and population. The name ''Terrassa'' derives from Latin ''Te ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

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Group C

*11–13 November 2022,

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

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Group D

*11–13 November 2022,

Kranj Kranj (, ) is the List of cities and towns in Slovenia, fourth-largest city in Slovenia and the largest urban center of the traditional region of Upper Carniola (northwestern Slovenia) and the Slovene Alps. It is located approximately northwest o ...

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

. ---- ----

Knockout Stage

The draw for the Knockout Stage was made on the 20 November 2022.

Bracket

Quarter-Finals

'' Tenerife Echeyde won 35–16 on aggregate'' ---- '' GS Apollon Smyrnis won 25–13 on aggregate'' ---- ''

won 31–19 on aggregate'' ---- '' Enka Istanbul won 29–24 on aggregate''

Semi-Finals

'' GS Apollon Smyrnis won 28–19 on aggregate'' ---- ''

won 25–20 on aggregate''

Final

'' GS Apollon Smyrnis won 30–25 on aggregate''

References

External links

*
Detailed report on the LEN Challenger CupTotal Water Polo report on the LEN Challenger Cup
{{DEFAULTSORT:2022-23 LEN Challenger Cup LEN Challenger Cup 2022 in men's water polo 2023 in men's water polo 2022–23 in LEN water polo

Creation

Format

Composition of teams

Schedule

Rounds and dates

Draw

Group Stage

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Knockout Stage

Bracket

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Final

See also

References

External links