The partnership between Wongani Lungu and Yamikani Mologeni has propelled FCB Nyasa Big Bullets into the final of the 2025/26 Castel Challenge Cup after a 2–0 victory over Mzuzu City Hammers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Mologeni first showed hunger in the 5th minute when his team was awarded a corner and he made it directly into the palms of Hammers’ Innocent Kwamwambi, as no one managed to finish it off.
Mzuzu had their first attempt on target in the 11th minute but it yielded nothing as it was collected by Bullets’ goalie, Innocent Nyasulu.
In the 14th minute, Mologeni also delivered another corner and this time it reached Blessings Mpokera who headed over the crossbar.
At this time, the rain started pouring.
Then Lungu had his time to shine in the 25th minute from the right flank, as he tried to send a cross, which was punched away by Kwamwambi— but he had collided with Bullets’ striker, Ephraim Kondowe, who was cautioned with a yellow card due to the approach.
Another Bullets player was yellow carded, Yankho Singo, as he made a bad tackle against a Hammers player.
In the 39th minute, Nyasa Big Bullets carved out a moment of real menace.
A free-kick was won just outside the box, and Singo responded with a clever, teasing lob that forced the goalkeeper into an urgent punch.
The loose ball dropped invitingly to left winger Gastin Phodo, whose fierce follow-up was again beaten away, this time conceding a corner.
From the resulting set piece, Mologeni delivered with purpose, picking out Khumbo Banda in the area.
Banda rose well to meet it, but his header drifted narrowly wide, letting the opposition off the hook after a sustained spell of pressure.
In the 44th minute, Lungu had a chance to put his side in front but he struck it over the bar.
As the game was heading to half time, the referee, Easter Zimba, added 4 minutes to the clock.
Two minute later, the moment of truth came.
Phodo, who was dribbling at the left flank, sent a diagonal cross to Mologeni who instantly sent a cross for Lungu to finish and make it 1-0.
By half-time, there was drama.
A pitch invader went towards where Hammers’ keeper will be in the second half but he was caught by the security detail that was around.
When the whistle was blown for the second-half, Hammers introduced Hassan Luwembe and Samson Olatubason for Alex Msiska and Alex Orotomal, while Bullets replaced Kondowe for Hassan Kajoke.
Less than 5 minutes later, Bullets could have doubled the lead.
This time it was a through-ball from Lungu to Kajoke, who scored, but it was ruled out because he was offside.
Right after that, Hammers started gaining momentum.
They attacked more and pressurised the home side.
The best highlight in that time-frame, the 61st minute, was when Hassan Luwembe had a chance to at least equalise, but his effort went over the bar.
Nonetheless, that momentum got slowed down. Bullets utilised this chance to score another one.
Lungu completed his brace in the 72nd minute as he finished off a throughball from Mologeni, his second assist.
This time, Lungu squeezed the ball to the left bottom corner.
The fans at the stands known as ‘Biafra’ or ‘Ndirande Stand’ lit up red flares while dancing.
This made Hammers change. Bob Mpinganjira Junior and Maxwell Funsani were introduced for Akeem Abioye and Arnold Phiri.
Later in the game, Lungu, who went down and stretched out if the pitch, was subbed off for Frank Willard.
In the 84th minute, there was another attack from Bullets in the centre.
It was Kajoke, who had received a pass from Henry Chiwaya, but his left-foof strike was saved.
In the 89th minute, Hammers Cliff Mbewe was yellow carded after a foul on Chiwaya.
Mbewe was then sent off as he was given a red card 2 minutes later after a bad foul on the same player.
At the end of the match, Lungu was awarded the man of the match.
(Above: Mologeni being rewarded with money by Bullets fans)
Hammers Coach, Lazarus Deco, accepted defeat saying that their opponents were well prepared because they had previously defeated ‘giant teams’.
“We had another game plan but theirs (Bullets) went ahead of us. My boys did not perfome the way I wanted them (to),” Deco Nyamera said.
Bullets’ Interim Head Coach, Gilbert Chirwa, said they planned well in training by watching their opponents gameplay through videos.
“They are a good team, well organised. When we are a good team we create a lot of chances, two goals is not bad,” Chirwa said.
(Above: Part of the highlights: Courtesy of Bullets Media)
This means Bullets will face Goshen City Dedza Dynamos in the finals at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
