Malawi: Wanderers claim Blantyre Derby bragging rights

Mighty Wanderers edged sworn rivals FCB Nyasa Big Bullets 1-0 on Saturday to claim Blantyre Derby bragging rights for the first time since 2021.

Wanderers’ first league win over Bullets in six attempts handed the 17-time champions a first league defeat of the 2025 season under new coach Peter Mponda. The Nomads, as Wanderers are called, took their tally to 16 points from six games, lying two points behind the rivals with a game in hand.

Blessings Mwalilino scored the only goal of the game in the first half at a crowded Kamuzu Stadium in the commercial capital, Bullets, in a match that saw Wanderers honour the genesis of the derby, the late Yasin Osman, who died weeks ago.

Mwalilino put Wanderers ahead in the 11th minute when he made the most of winger Wisdom Mpinganjira’s corner-kick.

The towering midfielder arrived in the box to meet a flicked ball with an outstretched leg. Bullets were slow to react to the danger, leading to a rebound that Mwalilino finished into the roof of the net from the goal line.

Bullets struggled to build from the back with skipper Llyod Aaron over-elaborating on the ball, often being forced to pass backwards and sideways, leaving Chikumbutso Salima and Mike Mkwate isolated from each other and starved of the ball.

Wanderers threatened to add another goal, but striker Promise Kamwendo turned and volleyed the ball wide. Eventually, winger Francisco Madinga sent his effort straight into the palms of goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu.

Perhaps, the closest chance the Bullets had in this half was in the 28th minute, after coach Peter Mponda withdrew defender Clyde Senaji for defensive midfielder Frank Willard, a move that freed Salima and Mkwate.

The former slipped a pass past the blue wall to forward Babatunde Adepoju, who released the ball wide from where it was whipped across the goal-mouth beyond the reach of Wanderers goalkeeper Chancy Mtete.

However, Blessings Mpokera skied his effort into the packed terraces when all the ball needed was the touch of his hair to go into the net. The Nomads led 1-0 at half-time. When play resumed, Mponda made a double substitution: Chawanangwa Gumbo and Henry Chiwaya stepped in for Mkwate and Aaron.

The changes reloaded the Bullets’ attack, but Bob Mpinganjira’s side weathered the early storm before settling into their long-ball and direct game, with Mwalilino looking lively.

Mpinganjira freshened things up, withdrawing Gaddie Chirwa and Kamwendo for winger Dan Kundondo and striker Clement Nyondo, respectively.

Mponda made more changes with centre forward Ephraim Kondowe replacing Wongani Lungu in the 58th minute. The Nomads’ outcast nearly turned Bullets’ savior when he headed the ball towards the goal line, but right-back Stanley Sanudi whipped the effort away to safety.

A few minutes later, Wanderers thought they had cushioned their lead, but Nyondo’s 72nd-minute effort was ruled out for offside. Bullets threw more men to force a draw, but Mtete produced a wonderful save to deny Adepoju.

The last time the Nomads defeated their rivals was in 2021 when Vincent Nyangulu’s lone goal sealed the victory. This time around the hero was Mwalilino, the new acquisition from Karonga United.

Starting line-ups:

Wanderers:  Mtete, Timothy Silwimba, Lawrence Chaziya, Sanudi, Peter Cholopi, Felix Zulu (Nanison Mbewe), Blessings Singini, Madinga (Emmanuel Nyirenda), Wisdom Mpinganjira, Gaddie Chirwa, Kamwendo

Bullets: Innocent Nyasulu, Blessings Joseph, Salima, Senaji (Willard), Blessings Mpokera, Yankho Singo, Mkwate, Wongani Lungu, Aaron, Babatunde Adepoju, Maxwell Gasten

Referee: David Chinoko

First Assistant Referee: Happiness Mbandambanda

Second Assistant Referee: Musa Grant

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