TNM Super League rookies Ekhaya FC are within touching distance of the summit following a 3-1 away victory over Mzuzu City Hammers.
The win sees Ekhaya move to third place on the log with 19 points from 9 games, just three behind current leaders Mighty Wanderers, who top the table with 22 points. FCB Nyasa Big Bullets sit second with 21 points.
For Hammers, they are in the danger zone because they rank 14th with 7 points from 8 games.
The visitors wasted no time, taking the lead just seven minutes into the game when Andrew Lameck slotted home from Stanley Biliati’s assist.
But Hammers quickly responded in the 18th minute through Samson Olatubosun, who headed in a well-taken corner by Chawanangwa Mkandawire to level the match.
However, Ekhaya’s intensity did not drop.
They regained the lead in the 30th minute through Wongani Kaponya, finishing a brilliant low drive from another Biliati pass.
The visitors went into halftime 2-1 ahead, having dominated set-pieces and midfield possession.
Just after the restart, Clever Chikwata added a third for Ekhaya, once again assisted by the brilliant Biliati, who ended the game with three assists and earned the Man of the Match award.
The Hammers had a few chances to close the gap, most notably through Said Husen and Amidu Mponda but lacked composure in the final third.
Ekhaya’s keeper, Eliasi Missi, also pulled off a fine save late in the match to deny any hope of a comeback.
Stanley Biliati was named the man of the match.
Coach for Ekhaya, Enos Chatama, made it clear that his aim is to survive relegation this season and nothing more.
“We are not fighting for anything, as a team, we know that the direction is good,” Chatama said.
Lucky Mauluka Nyoni, Coach for Hammers, said his side performed well despite a few lapses that resulted in conceding the three goals.
“We started with three strikers, so I think they were just staying up front. So we wanted players who can drop and dominate the midfield. The defenders also defended well,” Nyoni said.
Ekhaya have registered a single draw, 0-0 against Blue Eagles on 31 May and only lost twice this season, a 1-0 defeat to Chitipa United on 21 April and a similar scoreline to Kamuzu Barracks on 17 May, 2025.
