Silver Strikers’ hopes of defending their TNM Super League title are fading fast, with their chances of being crowned champions in the 2025 season now highly improbable, despite remaining mathematically possible.
Their slim hopes suffered a further blow on Sunday when they were held to a 1–1 draw by Karonga United at Karonga Stadium, a result that left the bankers third on 57 points from 27 matches.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets are second with 62 points from 28 games while leaders Mighty Wanderers top the table with 65 points, also from 28 matches. For Silver to emerge as champions, they would need to win all their remaining fixtures and hope that both Wanderers and Bullets lose all of theirs.
Nonetheless, Assistant Coach for the Central Bankers, Mapopa Msukwa, thinks otherwise.
“The league is still 100% open until the last game. We will go back and prepare for our next game [against Mzuzu City Hammers] and come flat out,” he said.
In the game, Karonga United took the lead in the 70th minute through Alfred Chizinga with an assist from Anthony Mfune. The visitors responded nine minutes later via striker Stain Davie, who equalised by heading it home from a corner.
In Blantyre, Wanderers and Bullets had games on Sunday.
Starting with the league leaders, Wanderers, they won 1-0 against Civil Service United, courtesy of Charles Mafaiti, who headed into his own net in the second minute of the game at Kamuzu Stadium from a Sama Thierry Tanjong’s cross.
The Nomads now have two Malawi Defence Force-sponsored outfits to play against and call it a season. These are Moyale Barracks and Kamuzu Barracks.
Coach for Wanderers, Bob Mpinganjira, said the chances are now very high for them to be crowned champions.
“It is only up to us. We need to make a good plan and win the two (remaining) games,” he said.
For about 20 minutes, Wanderers dominated in ball possession, forcing free kicks and creating half-chances mostly through Tanjong and Emmanuel Nyirenda, but their threats were not clinical
Civil Service grew into the game by the 23rd minute up until the half-time as Chifundo Damba on various occasions tested keeper Dalitso Khungwa, who was in his best form to pull a critical save.
In the 48th minute, Wanderers could have doubled their lead as Sama’s effort hit the side netting, despite managing to beat the opposing keeper.
For another 20 minutes after that incident, Wanderers sustained pressure, but they were met by growing resistance and composure from Rahaman John in the goal of Civil.
Civil then threatened with about 15 minutes left to play, when Dastan Banda blew a chance to equalise after receiving a pass from John Dambuleni.
Wanderers managed to keep their lead and at the end of the match, their player, Emmanuel Nyirenda, was voted man of the match.
Their Coach, Mpinganjira, said it was a difficult game.
“We did not play our usual game… we followed our counterparts’ play, they were playing long balls now, when we won it, we also wanted to put it forward, which is not our game,” he said.
Civil Service United’s Coach, Abbas Makawa, said they lost their track in the first minute of the game.
“We tried to push, we created some chances, and failed to convert those. It happens in a game of football, but we came here to win… yeah, we have lost. We will go back home and correct those mistakes,” he said.
In the standings, CIVO remains 4th with 41 points from 28 games.
Second-placed Bullets are still keeping the chase of supremacy as they defeated Ekhaya FC 2-0 at Mpira Stadium, courtesy of Gastin Phodo’s 30-minute goal and Ephraim Kondowe’s 45+2 goal.
From the opening moments, Bullets signalled their intent as Kondowe attempted an audacious bicycle kick, but his mistiming allowed goalkeeper Joshua Waka to recover and avert the danger.
Several minutes later, Bullets had chances through Chikumbutso Salima, Wongai Lungu and Frank Willard, but none of them were clinical.
In the 18th minute, Bullets came again as Peter Banda delivered a cross to Kondowe, whose header missed the target.
Two minutes later, the People’s team threatened again as Wongani Kaponya made a brilliant run to the right, but he blasted his effort over the crossbar.
This prompted Ekhaya to make a change as Joseph McDonald replaced Blessings Malinda and 10 minutes later, Bullets also had their change by introducing Phodo for Mike Mkwate.
Phodo made an immediate impact, scoring just seconds after his introduction and grabbing an assist for Ephraim Kondowe’s goal. This earned him the man of the match accolade at the end of the match.
The move flowed sharply down the left. Peter Banda and Chikumbutso Salima exchanged quick passes before releasing Wongani Lungu, whose fierce drive forced Waka into a save, only for Phodo to react first and hammer home the rebound.
For Ekhaya, this was their fourth defeat in a row, and they now sit 7th with 39 points from 28 games.
The team’s Coach, Enos Chatama, said the defeats are lessons, as they are building a stronger team.
He said they targeted survival in the league.
“This should not happen again. We have a few better players; other teams can rotate their squads, but it has been a very bad season and the schedules for Ekhaya. We have played 6 games in 15 days, which was hard to change players,” Chatama said.
Elsewhere, Moyale Barracks defeated Creck Sporting Club 2-0 at Mzuzu Stadium, courtesy of Nadrick Nyirenda’s 26th-minute goal and Clever Kalambo’s 70th-minute strike.
The result means Moyale has jumped to 8th and tied on points with Ekhaya (39), but they are differentiated by goals. Ekhaya has an 8+ Goal Difference while Moyale has -6.
On the other hand, Creck remains 11th with 33 points from 27 games.
