Silver Strikers head coach Peter Mgangira has issued a rallying call for goals as his side prepares to host Moyale Barracks in the first leg of the 2025 Airtel Top 8 Quarterfinal this afternoon at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.
Speaking ahead of the tie, Mgangira admitted he expects a tough encounter given the strength of the opposition but remains confident in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
“It will be a tough game considering the calibre of our opponents,” he said. “But we only respect the team, not fear them. We need to score goals to increase our chances of progressing.”
His counterpart, Moyale Barracks head coach Prichard Mwansa, labelled the encounter as a “must-win match” for the Mzuzu-based soldiers.
“Come rain, come sunshine – we are ready to give it our all,” Mwansa declared.
The return leg between the two sides is scheduled for 17 May 2025.
So far, the tournament has seen mixed results.
Defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were held to a goalless draw by newcomers Creck Sporting Club on 12 April at Kamuzu Stadium.
Mighty Wanderers claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Karonga United a week later at the same venue, while Mzuzu City Hammers and Civil Service United played out a 0-0 stalemate at Mzuzu Stadium on 20 April.
Silver Strikers boast a strong history in the Airtel Top 8.
They are two-time champions, lifting the trophy in the inaugural 2017 edition after edging Mighty Wanderers 10-9 on penalties following a goalless draw, and again in 2019 when they beat Karonga United 1-0.
They were also runners-up in 2021, 2023 and 2024 — all times falling to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
In 2021, they lost 4-3 on post-match penalties after a 1-1 draw, in 2023, they were narrowly defeated 1-0 and the same score-line was witnessed in 2024.
Silver Strikers have never exited the competition at the quarterfinal stage, though they have stumbled in the semifinals on three occasions: losing 3-1 to MAFCO on penalties in 2023 after a 1-1 draw; falling 3-1 to Bullets in 2022; and going down 3-1 to eventual champions Blue Eagles in 2018.
Moyale Barracks, meanwhile, are no strangers to the Airtel Top 8, having qualified for the competition four times.
Their best performance came in 2017 when they reached the semifinals, only to lose 3-2 on aggregate to Mighty Wanderers.
Subsequent campaigns have ended in quarterfinal heartbreak—1-0 to Bullets in 2018, 5-4 on penalties to Silver Strikers in 2021 following a 1-1 draw, and a 3-2 defeat to Blue Eagles in 2023.
