Blantyre-based giants Mighty Wanderers and FCB Nyasa Bullets maintained the momentum in the run-in to the 2025 TNM Super League title chase with victories yesterday.
The Nomads, who are on the driving seat with 65 points from 28 games, edged Civil Service United of Lilongwe 1-0 via an own goal from Charles Mafaiti at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Bullets celebrate one of their goals. | Courtesy of Bullets
On the other hand, the People’s Team beat Ekhaya FC 2-0 Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township also in Blantyre.
Second-placed Bullets trail the Nomads by three points with two games apiece to wind up the season.
The Nomads now need four points from their remaining games against Malawi Defence Force teams Moyale Battacks and Kamuzu Barracks at home to seal the title they last won in 2017 while Bullets will be hoping that their arch-rivals slip and that they win both their remaining matches against Mzuzu City Hammers and Mighty Tigers.
With Lilongwe-based Silver Strikers having dropped two points after being held to a one-all draw by Karonga United, the battle for the race could be headed for a two-horse race.
The Bankers have 57 points, but with a game in hand and if they can win all their remaining three matches, they will close the season at 66 points.
At Kamuzu Stadium, it took barely two minutes for the Nomads to go in front even before the fans had the real feel of the action.
Cameroonian forward Thierry Sama Tanjong accelerated on the left flank before curling the ball into the goal area which Mafaiti headed into his own net in an effort to clear it into touch.
Civil had their moments, but failed to make good use of their chances with Chifundo Damba the notable culprit having missed three clear chances.
In the second half, the visitors came out of their shell in search of an equaliser, but the Nomads held on to bag the priceless three points as the title chase heads towards the climax.
Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira conceded that it was a tough match.
“We started well, but after the goal, we slowed down. We were following Civo’s pattern of play, but the most important thing is that we got the full points,” he said.
His Civo counterpart Abbas Makawa described the defeat as painful.
“The own goal was down to communication breakdown, we could have easily avoided it. We also failed to take our chances. Maybe it wasn’t just our day,” he said.
At Mpira Stadium, after fluffing a number of good chances, Bullets broke the deadlock through substitute Maxwell Phodo with his first touch in the 31st minute, just two minutes after replacing Mike Mkwate.
The goal calmed the nerves of the Bullets’ faithful and also eased the pressure on coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda.
Ephraim Kondowe then doubled Bullets’ advantage just before the break.
Bullets coach Mponda and his assistant Gilbert Chitwa declined to comment.
On his part, Ekhaya coach Enos Chatama said his charges failed to settle down in the first half.
“We conceded goals that could have been easily avoided. We have to go back to the drawing board and work on our shortfalls. We are building a team,” he said.
In Karonga, after a barren first half, the hosts went ahead in the 71st minute through Alfred Chizinga before Silver levelled the scores eight minutes later through Stain Davie.
