Malawi: Wanderers moving on after Cup defeat – Mpinganjira

Malawi’s Mighty Wanderers FC coach Bob Mpinganjira has urged his wards to move on following Sunday’s defeat at the hands of Silver Strikers in the FDH Cup final in Lilongwe.

The Nomads, as Wanderers are also called, shared the spoils at one-all with eventual winners Strikers before they prevailed 5-4 on post-match penalties at Bingu National Stadium.

The FDH Bank Cup is back home 🔥

Good morning Ma Banker!! pic.twitter.com/tNfC5yjEYJ

— Silver Strikers FC (@Silver_Strikers) November 10, 2025

Reflecting on the defeat, Mpinganjira said it was not time to moan and groan after the setback in the final, calling for a switch in focus to the remaining domestic competitions. Wanderers lead the Super League’s log table.

“Penalties are always unpredictable. We gave it all but the result hasn’t gone our way. We have the Super League and Castel Cup ahead, it is important that we let go of today’s result and strategize,” the coach told Wanderers’ media on Sunday.

How did the final between Strikers and Wanderers pan out?

The final had ended one-all in regulation time to pave the way for the spot kicks which saw Wanderers keeper Dalitso Khungwa save four attempts but still end up on the losing side after his team mates also missed from their kicks.

The Bankers had trailed for the better part of the final after midfielder Blessings Singini had fired the Nomads ahead in the first half. However, defender Maxwell Paipi equalized late in the game to drag the contest into the post-match penalties.

The Bankers grabbed the equalizer when Kodonto handled in the box while trying to deal with a throw-in from the left side of the pitch. The referee pointed at the dreaded spot from where Paipi stepped forward to drill the ball hard and low past desperately diving Khungwa and bring the game level.

Who scored and missed for Silver Strikers and Wanderers?

Post-match penalties followed which saw Wanderers convert their attempts through Isaac Kaliyati, Singini, Clement Nyondo and Emmanuel Nyirenda while Stanley Sanudi fired wide before Striker’s keeper George Chikooka stopped Charles Chipala, Peter Cholopi, Masiya Manda and Timothy Silwimba’s efforts for Wanderers.

Silver converted their attempts through Paipi, Innocent Shema, Binwell Katinji, Chinsinsi Maonga and Nickson Mwase while Khungwa saved Emmanuel Allan, Macdonald Lameck, Charles Chipala and Chikooka’s attempts.

Going into the final, Wanderers had been playing second fiddle to the Bankers in most meetings and in particular in this competition. They lost 3-0 to their Lilongwe counterparts in the semifinal in 2021. Strikers went on to win the cup that year. History repeated itself on Sunday.

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