FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have successfully defended their Airtel Top 8 title with a 1-0 victory over Silver Strikers, thanks to a 72nd-minute header from Ernest Petro at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Petro found the back of the net after wing-back Alick Lungu lobbed the ball into the 6-yard box, and the striker converted it into the right-bottom corner.
Petro’s performance earned him the man of the match accolade.
This is the third time Bullets have claimed the cup, having previously won it in 2021 and 2023. They went into the finals after defeating Kamuzu Barracks, while the Central Bankers booked their place after defeating Mighty Wanderers.
Despite the defeat, Silver Strikers started the match with an attacking strategy, maintaining possession throughout the first half. The Bankers were on the attack in the 12th minute when Zebron Kalima’s effort resulted in a corner, forced by Lungu’s defensive block.
Bullets, however, created their own chances, with Chrispin Mapemba’s cross in the 30th minute being squandered by Ephraim Kondowe, who failed to convert. In the 34th minute, Bullets faced a setback as Mapemba was injured and replaced by Chikumbutso Salima, who had a chance in the 44th minute but saw his free-kick saved by Silver’s goalkeeper, George Chikooka.
In the second half, Silver Strikers continued to dominate possession, prompting coach Peter Mponda to make substitutions, bringing on Levison Maganizo and Charles Chipala for Uchizi Vunga and Binwell Katinji in the 56th minute.
Bullets responded with a tactical change of their own, as coach Calisto Pasuwa introduced Wongani Lungu for Lloyd Aaron. The team maintained possession but struggled to be clinical in front of goal.
After Bullets scored, Silver’s captain Chikondi Kamanga was replaced by Gift Chunga, who added pace and posed a threat to Bullets’ Richard Chimbamba with a strike in the 83rd minute.
In the 85th minute, Bullets nearly doubled their lead when Babatunde’s header from a Salima cross went wide, just 2 yards from goal.
Silver Strikers had further chances in the 87th and 90+3 minutes to equalise, but both were missed, much to the frustration of Mponda on the touchline.
In post-match interviews, Mponda, visibly disappointed, said his team had dominated the game but had gifted their opponents a goal. Meanwhile, Pasuwa expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance.
Despite the defeat, Silver Strikers’ Chinsinsi Maonga won the Golden Boot after scoring three goals in the tournament.
Bullets also set a new record by not conceding a goal throughout the tournament, making it a historic defence of their title.
The final racked up K116, 454, 500 gross revenue, a record because in last season’s final between the current champions and MAFCO FC collected K39.3 million.
Overall, this means Bullets collected K53.558 million including their K30 million cash prize, while Silver Strikers banked K33.558 million together with their K10 million cash prize as runners-up.
Writing on his Facebook Page, President for the Football Association of Malawi, Fleetwood Haiya, said the sports is ‘on a good trajectory’.
