Al-Merrikh land highly-rated Malawian forward Salima

Sudanese club Al-Merrikh SC have signed Malawi TNM Super League 2025 joint-top scorer Chikumbutso Salima from FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, shrugging off competition from other suitors across Africa.

In a statement, Bullets confirmed the transfer of the highly-rated 24-year-old forward who spent two seasons with the record 17-time Super League champions, scoring 29 goals in 69 appearances.

“We thank Chikumbutso for his incredible contributions to Bullets, and wish him continued success at Al-Merrikh SC,” reads part of the statement.

The Bullets star had a stellar 2025 season, registering 13 assists and scoring 15 goals in 28 league matches, at par with then Nigerian-born team-mate Babatunde Adepoju in goals.

The exploits of Salima attracted the attention of potential buyers such as Simba SC of Tanzania and TP Mazembe in the DRC Congo. However, it is Al- Merrikh who have won the race to sign the Flames forward on a long-term deal.

Chikumbutso Salima Should Brace For Competition at Al-Merrikh

At Al-Merrikh, the Malawian will have to compete for regular football against an array of strikers, including Zambian Ricky Banda, Sudanese Ammar Ali Abdalla, Mogtaby Issa, Ali Alli, Mousa Camara from Mali, Ivorian Mohamed Gbane, and Fenohasina Razafilimalo from Comoros.

Al-Merrikh are competing in the Rwandan League, alongside Al Hilal Omdurman SC, due to the ongoing war and instability in Sudan. Sporting activities in Sudan have been suspended for several months due to the ongoing war and security instability, forcing clubs to seek alternative competitions abroad.

Consequently, the Confederation of African Football approved the requests of Sudanese giants to participate in the Rwandan Premier League. Last season (2024–2025), Al Hilal and Al-Merrikh temporarily competed in the Mauritanian league.

Earlier reports had suggested that Al-Merrikh had received a nod to participate in the 2025–26 Libyan Premier League, only to make a U-turn.