Mighty Wanderers Coach Bob Mpinganjira still believes that his side can clinch the 2025 TNM Super League despite falling 2-1 to Mzuzu City Hammers at Mzuzu Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
In the game, Wanderers scored through Promise Kamwendo in the 55th minute, while Hammers managed a comeback scoring on the 73rd minute through Samson Olatubasun and another one by Isiah Nyirenda in injury time, on 90+3.
This means Wanderers’ unbeaten run has ended after 25 matches — a stretch that included 16 victories, 8 draws, and now a single defeat.
The standings remain unchanged from the weekend for the top two.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets stay top with 56 points and a +34 goal difference, while Mighty Wanderers remain second, also on 56 points but with a lower goal difference of +27; all these teams have played 25 games each.
Mpinganjira said they will try and up their game in the remaining five games, which might decide if they can be this year’s league champions.
“The chances are still there; we still have to work hard on the remaining games,” he said.
On the other hand, the Hammers’ victory has revived their hopes of surviving relegation.
The team sits 14th out of 16 with 27 points from 27 matches, just three points behind Moyale Barracks, who have three games in hand.
Head Coach Elias Chirambo said the team must remain focused.
“If we are to survive, we have to maintain this and collect all nine points,” he said.
How Nomads were Hammered
(The link are the highlights of the game, courtesy of SULOM’s Facebook Page) https://web.facebook.com/share/v/1HDhSvotLr/
Mzuzu City Hammers and Mighty Wanderers started the game by honouring the departed striker, Esau Kanyenda, with a minute of silence.
Then Hammers’ Alex Msiska picked up an injury during warm-ups of the game, and he was replaced by Patrick Banda when the referee blew his whistle to start the match.
It was Wanderers who threatened first in the 11th minute when Timothy Silwimba made a good move, but his final attempt went over the bar and did likewise in the 18th minute.
In the minutes that followed, the visitors piled on the pressure, especially in the midfield, and won several corner kicks, but they failed to make use of those set-piece opportunities to find a goal up until halftime.
The second half burst into life with Wanderers charging out of the blocks. In the 55th minute, with the match at a high tempo, Isaac Kaliati on the left delivered a crisp short pass to Silwimba nearby. Silwimba danced past Mathews Banda, who was hot on his heels, yet he weaved effortlessly, slicing through the pressure.
With perfect timing, he delivered a precise cross to Promise Kamwendo, who met it with a header that nestled into the top-left corner. The stadium roared as the Wanderers took the lead, 1–0, in a moment of pure brilliance.
The Nomads opted for more firepower in their midfield attacking position by bringing in Blessings Singini and replacing Rajab Nyirenda. The team now started to control the game.
However, Hammers were still playing offensively whenever they had the chance. By the 66th minute, Moses Gwayi and Hassan Luwembe were subbed off for Isaac Msiska and Chimwemwe Chunga.
Then came the moment Mzuzu City Hammers had been waiting for — a lifeline in the 73rd minute. A free-kick, just metres from goal. Wanderers hurriedly assembled a solid wall, bracing for a thunderbolt. But Madalitso Safuli had other ideas.
He took a few steps back, lifted a delicate lob instead of going direct and the stadium held its breath as the ball floated into the box… straight onto Samson Olatubasun, who converted it home through a header with ease to level the match at 1–1. The Hammers had risen. Samson slew the lion and celebrated behind Nomad’s goal, near the fence separating the field and the stands.
Four minutes later, Hammers goalkeeper, Oblak Mwakisambe, picked up an injury and he was replaced by Innocent Kamwambi.
That equaliser completely shattered Wanderers’ game plan. Suddenly, the Hammers matched the visitors stride for stride, even levelling the possession that Wanderers had controlled for most of the afternoon.
The shift in momentum forced the Nomads’ technical bench into urgent changes, withdrawing Adam Wallace and Daniel Kudonto Jr for Blessings Mwalilino and Lawrence Chaziya in a bid to regain control and steady the match. And it almost paid off immediately.
In the 84th minute, just six minutes from full time, Mwalilino rose to meet a perfectly delivered cross from Silwimba — but his header soared over the bar.
This pressurised Hammers. In the 89th minute, they introduced Alex Orotomal and Chisomo Sambani for Madalitso Safuli and the goal scorer, Olatibosan.
Then the referee added 7 minutes after regulation time had elapsed. This time around, Wanderers started attacking wave after wave, but they were not clinical.
In the first minute of the added time, Felix Zulu for Wanderers missed his chance to put his side in front.
Just three minutes later, the Hammers delivered the knockout blow.
Chimwemwe Chunga latched onto a cross from the left by Chisomo Sambani and unleashed a low, thunderous shot. Wanderers’ keeper, Dalitso Khungwa, managed to get a hand to it, punching it away — but only partially. Right there, Isiah Nyirenda pounced, guiding the ball under Khungwa’s outstretched arms to make it 2–1.
Nyirenda sprinted to the corner flag, pumping his fist skyward, and the stadium erupted. The celebrations were electric — fans surged forward, breaking parts of the fence to join players on the pitch, waving shirts, singing at the top of their lungs, and turning Mzuzu Stadium into a cauldron of joy. Security scrambled to restore order as the Hammers’ supporters took full possession of the moment.
At the end of the match, Olatubosun was named the man-of-the-match.
In post-match interviews, Hammers Coach, Chirambo, congratulated his players.
“My boys worked hard. The secret was assembling a good squad. You know the problem is that they failed to do that after selling good players,” he said.
On the other hand, Wanderers Coach, Mpiunganjira, said luck was not on their side.
“That is the game of football… sometimes when we are trying to win, we do not get the result. We tried our best, played very well, and created chances, but did not score. So we got punished,” he said.
Elsewhere in the league
Chitipa United staged a stunning comeback to defeat Mighty Tigers 3–2, overturning a 2–0 deficit.
Tigers opened the scoring through Daniel Shadreck in the 49th and 57th minutes, but Chitipa hit back quickly — Mally Kasongo pulled one back in the 61st minute, and Zenga Manda levelled the score just three minutes later.
Kasongo completed his brace with a decisive strike in the 80th minute to seal the victory.
The win propels Chitipa to 7th place with 36 points from 27 games, while Mighty Tigers remain in the relegation zone, 15th out of 16, on 26 points from the same number of matches.
MAFCO defeated the already relegated Songwe Border United 2–0, courtesy of Zikani Sichinga in the 71st minute and China Chirwa in the 86th minute.
MAFCO now have 31 points from 28 games, while Songwe remain 16th with 6 points from 27 games.
In Lilongwe, Civil Service United played to a 0–0 draw against Goshen City Dedza Dynamos.
This leaves CIVO still in 7th place with 38 points from 26 games, while Dedza have moved up to 12th with 31 points from 28 games.
Upcoming games
On Thursday, league action continues as 3rd placed Silver Strikers — who have 47 points from 23 games — will face Kamuzu Barracks at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe. While Moyale Barracks, who are 13th with and have 27 points from 23 games, will face 5th placed Ekhaya, who have 39 points from 24 games, at Mzuzu Stadium.
