Malawi: Wanderers cage Tigers, bounce back to summit

There was a sense of inevitability at Kamuzu Stadium in Malawi’s commercial capital Blantyre as Mighty Wanderers overpowered Mighty Tigers 3-0 to bounce back to the TNM Super League summit on Wednesday.

The Nomads had for a week surrendered their leadership to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets who have now returned to second place of the 16-member log table, two points behind the rivals.

Ahead of the match, Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira rewarded striker Muhammad Sulumbu with a starting role after he scored in the previous weekend’s two-all draw with Silver Strikers.

This time around, the seasoned striker partnered Clement Nyondo while Dalitso Khungwa retained his seat between the sticks.

Perhaps eyes on the blue side of Blantyre were on winger Gaddie Chirwa who finally made it into the bench after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an injury.

How Wanderers scored

After a goalless first-half, Sulumba justified his inclusion with an opening goal for the Nomads in the 55^th minute before Blessings Mwalilino and Isaac Kaliati added names on the scoresheet in the 75^th and 79^th minutes respectively.

Sulumba scored from Rajab Nyirenda’s corner-kick. Some 20 minutes later, Mwalilino did justice to Blessings Singini’s delivery as he rose highest in the box to find the back of the net.

Eventually, Kaliati, a former Tigers player, showed no mercy on his former employers as he connected into the net a cross from substitute winger Adam Wallace to seal the maximum points for the hosts.

The Nomads have seven games remaining to the finish line against Ekhaya FC, Moyale Barracks, Civo Sporting Club, Songwe Border United, Kamuzu Barracks all at home then on the road versus Chitipa United and Mzuzu City Hammers.

Elsewhere, defending champions Strikers pushed closer to the title chasing pack after cruising to a 3-0 victory over Moyale Barracks FC in Lilongwe on Wednesday, thanks to Emmanuel Allan’s second half hat trick.

The Central Bankers occupy third place and have a game in hand, 11 points behind Wanderers.

In the North, Karonga United showed no mercy on Goshen City Dedza Dynamos FC, walloping them 3-1.

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