Malawi’s football fraternity is bracing for a weekend of passion, pride, and bragging rights as two of the country’s biggest cities — Lilongwe and Blantyre — host the FDH Bank Cup semifinals.
Lilongwe’s Bingu National Stadium will set the stage on Saturday for the Capital City Derby between Civil Service United and Silver Strikers, before the spotlight shifts to Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday for yet another fierce showdown — the Blantyre Derby between Mighty Wanderers and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
These are not just football matches; they are battles for supremacy, redemption, and history.
Capital City Derby: Civil vs. Silver — Pride and redemption on the line
For Civil Service United, this semifinal marks uncharted territory — their first FDH Bank Cup semifinal appearance since the competition’s inception in 2021.
The Servants are enjoying a remarkable season, unbeaten in 17 matches across all competitions, and are determined to end a decade-long cup drought.
Their last major triumph came in 2015 when they lifted the Standard Bank Cup.
Civil’s journey to this stage has been defined by grit and consistency.
They edged past Chitipa United 3-0 on post-match penalties in the Round of 32, defeated Red Lions 1-0 in the Round of 16, and outclassed second-tier side Mchinji Villa 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
But standing in their way are the Central Bankers— a side hungry for redemption after an exit from the CAF Champions League at the hands of Tanzania’s Young Africans last weekend.Silver, champions of the inaugural FDH Bank Cup in 2021, are eager to restore pride and end the season with silverware.
The Bankers have been ruthless in their cup campaign: beating Mighty Tigers 1-0, thrashing FC Shire 4-1, and dismantling defending champions Blue Eagles 3-0 in the last eight.
When these two sides last met in a cup competition — the 2025 Airtel Top 8 semifinals — Silver emerged 2-1 winners.
Civil will be eager to reverse that script in what promises to be a heated Lilongwe derby.
Silver Head Coach Peter Mgangira says he anticipates a tough outing on Saturday as his side face the area 9 based team.
“This obviously will be a big game, of course, every game is big, but we look forward to this one. The boys are hungry after returning from the CAF Champions League. We will be playing at BNS, where the playing field is good, and we won’t have any excuses. The coaches and players are looking forward to reaching the final and winning it, but we should first play Civo and win, then see how it goes in the end,” said Mgangira.
Civil gaffer Abbas Makawa expressed delight at his players’ response ahead of the derby, citing their impressive form in all competitions.
“They have beaten us so many times. We’re ready to show the spirit that we want to win,” he said. “We know Silver and the boys will do the job on Saturday.”
Blantyre derby: Wanderers vs. Bullets — a rivalry rekindled
If there’s a fixture that can bring the Malawi nation to a standstill, it is Wanderers vs. Bullets.
The Kamuzu Stadium will be a cauldron of blue and red as the country’s most successful clubs lock horns once again.
The Nomads enter the tie full of confidence after humiliating their age-old rivals 3-0 in the TNM Super League last Sunday — their second league victory over Bullets this season, having also won 1-0 earlier in the campaign.
Wanderers’ cup run has been equally impressive.
They overcame MAFCO 3-1 in the Round of 32, edged Mzuzu City Hammers 2-1 in the Round of 16, and progressed past Creck Sporting Club 3-2 on penalties in the quarterfinals after a goalless draw in regulation time.
For Bullets, this semifinal is all about revenge and legacy.
The defending champions, who won the FDH Bank Cup back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, are targeting a record third title.
Their campaign began with a 5-0 demolition of Chilumba Barracks, followed by a 3-0 victory over The Boys and a hard-fought 2-1 win against Kamuzu Barracks in the quarters.
The rivalry has a rich FDH Bank Cup history.
Last season, Bullets eliminated Wanderers in the round of 16 with a 2-1 win, inspired by a brace from Nigerian forward Babatunde Adepoju, who now leads the scoring chart with four goals.
Two years earlier, the People’s Team also humbled Wanderers 4-0 in the 2022 semifinals at Bingu National Stadium.
But this time, the momentum favours the Nomads — who seem to have rediscovered their spark under Coach Bob Mpinganjira.
“This is a new game, we’ll plan to win. The players have celebrated last Sunday’s win, but now we need to focus on this fixture,” said Mpinganjira.
His counterpart, Peter Mponda says his team is focusing ahead after last Sunday’s derby.
“As a coach, I have the responsibility to lift the spirits of the players. Losing 3-0 to Wanderers was very painful – it was a defeat due to bad performance and very discouraging to the players, considering the hard work they put into training. Their performance on that day was flat; we were failing to do anything. My only job is to encourage them and instill belief in them that we can go again and try to get ourselves into the final,” Mponda said.
All roads lead to Lilongwe
With both semifinals promising drama and fireworks, Malawi’s football fans are in for a weekend to remember.
From the tactical duels of Lilongwe to the emotional intensity of Blantyre, the FDH Bank Cup is set to deliver pure football theatre.
The winners of these two epic derbies will battle for the ultimate prize — the FDH Bank Cup — on November 9 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Whether it is Civil’s dream run, Silver’s redemption mission, Wanderers’ resurgence or Bullets’ quest for history, one thing is certain: Malawi football will be the ultimate winner.
By Praise Majawa
