FCB Nyasa Big Bullets striker Maxwell Gastin Phodo is enjoying an impressive 2025/26 Castel Cup campaign, having scored a tournament-high seven goals.
Phodo’s fine form continued on Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, where he struck twice to guide Bullets to a 2–0 victory over Mighty Tigers and secure a place in the semifinals.
In the 5th minute, Phodo scored at the right corner via a header from Blessings Mpokera.
In the 15th minute, Bullets’ Wongani Lungu’s thunderous strike was blocked by Tigers.
Phodo managed to score again in the 20th minute, but this time a low-driven shot to the bottom corner, as he connected from a Yamikani Mologeni’s throughball.
Phodo made another attempt in the 28th minute, but his strike went wide, denying him a hat-trick after receiving a good pass from the midfield.
In the 38th minute, Tigers could have scored. Mwai Banda delivered a cross to Matthews Sibale, who attempted a bicycle kick, but it went straight into the palms of Bullets’ goalie, Innocent Nyasulu.
Nonetheless, discipline was an issue for Tigers. Grayson Msowoya was cautioned with a yellow card in the 41st minute following a bad tackle against centre back, Henry Chiwaya.
In the 49th minute, Bullets had a golden chance via a close-range free-kick taken by Mologeni, but he opted to cross it and no one was there to finish it off.
Five minutes later, Tigers started settling. However, they were not clinical enough to damage with a goal.
Later, Tigers made a triple substitution. Bonex Chigaya, Shukran Affick, Steve Nkhoma were introduced for Martin Nsewa, James Tambwali and Mwayi Banda, but all failed to improve the atgacking intensity.
Bullets too had their 3-men substitution as Lungu, Phodo and Yankho Singo were all replaced by Mike Mkwate, Frank Willard and Hassan Kajoke.
At the end of the game, Phodo was awarded as the man of the match.
Bullets’ interim coach, Gilbert Chirwa described the game as ‘a good performance’
“It gives them (Bullets Players) confidence to proceed in future games,” Chirwa said.
Tigers’ Coach, Trevor Kajawa, Trevor Kajawa, said they fumbled in the first 29 minutes because their game plan was to frustrate Bullets.
“But we managed to come in the game, we closed them and dominated in some parts. The performance of the last 15 in the first and the last half, I think the boys played well,” he said.
This means Bullets will wait to see their semifinal opponents after the game between Mighty Wanderers, the defending champions, against Mzuzu City Hammers on Sunday in Mzuzu.
Meanwhile, Goshen City Dedza Dynamos and Blue Eagles will face off on their semifinal encounter.
