Malawi: Can Bullets finally seize league advantage?

Mighty Wanderers FC and FCB Big Bullets FC continue with their uncertain chase for the TNM Super League title this weekend aware that further slip ups could open the door for Silver Strikers to reclaim what belongs to them.

Winless in two games, Wanderers face in-form Ekhaya FC at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday fully aware of the threat the rookies pose as they are unbeaten in four games after winning thrice and drawing once.

The two teams met in November but the TNM Super League game could not continue in the first half due to heavy downpours. Even at that stage, Enos Chatama’s boys gave Wanderers a big a scare, hitting the post once.

Ekhaya showed their pedigree last weekend when they went to the Northern Region to beat Karonga United 1-0, something Wanderers failed to do.

Bob Mpinganjira’s side lost 2-1 to Ekwendeni Hammers in a midweek game, a week after dropping points in a goalless draw against Chitipa United, effectively erasing their advantage.

The second-placed Nomads have 56 points just like leaders Bullets who are ahead on a goal-aggregate, with both having five games each remaining to the finish line. On five points separate the top-two from holders Silver Strikers who have a game in hand.

Wanderers should have by now been home and dry with the league title but too many draws totaling eight have rendered their 24-game unbeaten run, which Hammers ended during the week useless they are now being led by Bullets who have lost five games and drawn just twice.

Mpinganjira remains upbeat that all is not lost but their fans have started panicking—after all this team last won the championship in 2017 or nine years ago.

Wanderers biggest problem

The Nomads biggest problem has been failure to put the ball in the back of the net yet they have the best strikers with talent and experience such as Promise Kamwendo, Muhammad Sulumba, Sama Thierry Tanjong and Clement Nyondo. “Well, we still have chances. We will work hard in the remaining five games and see what happens,” Mpinganjira said.

In the other camp, Bullets head into their next assignment against Karonga United on Saturday while smarting from a 2-0 loss to Creck Sporting Club last weekend. Prior to the defeat, Peter Mponda’s side showed signs of recovery after beating Civo United 4-3 then Kamuzu Barracks 2-0.

The record 17-time champions Bullets face Karonga United on Saturday, a chance to re-establish a three-point gap over Wanderers and probably brighten chances of winning it for the first time since 2023.