Battle of Peters in Familiar Airtel Top 8 Final

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ 2-1 triumph over Karonga United and Silver Strikers’ identical 2-1 victory against Civil Service United in the Airtel Top 8 Cup semifinals played at Bingu National Stadium on June 21 and 22, respectively, replicate a familiar script.

The two giants are once again set to clash in the final to fight for a prize money 35 million kwacha, echoing their fiercely contested 2024 encounter on November 30, where Bullets edged Silver 1-0 thanks to an Ernest Petro header from an Alick Lungu assist.

This marks the third meeting between the two sides in the final since the competition’s inception in 2017. In both previous finals, Bullets triumphed over the Central Bankers. The 2021 edition was decided on penalties, with Bullets winning 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in regulation time with goals from Stain Davie and Lanjesi Nkhoma for Silver and Bullets, respectively, canceling each other out.

MORE NEWS FROM WAMPIRA

This season, Bullets navigated their way past CRECK Sporting Club, a team fresh from their debut elite league campaign. The first leg on April 12 at Kamuzu Stadium marked the official kickoff of the Cup and proved challenging for Bullets. However, in the return leg on April 25, a crucial Maxwell Gasten Phodo header sealed their place in the semifinals against Karonga United.

Under the floodlights of Bingu National Stadium on June 21, Bullets edged Karonga 2-1 with goals from Chikumbutso Salima and Hassan Kajoke, nullifying Robert Luhanga’s effort for the Northern Region side.

On the other side, TNM Super League defending champions Silver Strikers made light work of Moyale Barracks in their quarterfinal clash, winning both legs. Festus Duwe opened the scoring in Lilongwe on April 21, and later delivered a brace in the return leg at Rumphi Stadium on May 18. Stain Davie added another, while Black Aliseni scored Moyale’s consolation in a 4-1 aggregate win that booked Silver’s semifinal date with Civil Service United.

In the semifinal played on the afternoon of Sunday, June 22 at Bingu National Stadium, Silver again emerged 2-1 winners. Goals from Nickson Mwase and Emmanuel Allan rendered Peter Ng’ambi’s strike for Civil meaningless, sealing a final rematch with Bullets.

This year’s final will be a tactical battle of namesakes—Peter Mponda for Bullets and Peter Mgangira for Silver. Both are legends of the game, having transitioned from the pitch to the dugout. Mponda has been to the Airtel Top 8 final before as an assistant coach under Kalisto Pasuwa, but his first final as head coach was ironically with Silver last season when he lost to Pasuwa’s Bullets in a “master versus apprentice” affair.

Mgangira, too, has felt the sting of Bullets before. He featured in the final twice as assistant coach. First to Zambia’s Daniel Kabwe in 2021, then to Mponda in 2024 losing on both occasions. Now at the helm, he seeks redemption and silverware in his first final as head coach.

This showdown promises high stakes. Both coaches are desperate to lift the trophy in their own right in another “master versus apprentice” affair. Mponda may wish to prove he cannot be undone by the team he left behind, while Silver Strikers may be out to show Mponda that his departure has not stalled their momentum.

More importantly, the Bankers see this final as a chance to avenge defeats in 2021 and 2024. Their fans will be eager to see whether Mgangira’s reign begins with silverware—an encouraging sign that the club’s excellent form from last year’s league title run is continuing.

Victory would also place Silver on equal footing with Bullets in terms of Airtel Top 8 titles—three apiece in five finals. Silver won the inaugural edition in 2017, defeating Mighty Wanderers 9-8 on penalties, and again in 2019 with a narrow 1-0 win over Karonga United courtesy of a Khuda Muyaba goal. They lost their other two finals to Bullets.

Meanwhile, Bullets aim to extend their dominance. They won the title in 2021, 2023, and 2024, and will be eyeing a fourth. Their only final defeats came in 2018 falling to Blue Eagles via Stewart Mbunge’s heartbreaking injury-time penalty, and in 2022, losing 5-3 on penalties to rivals Mighty Wanderers after a goalless draw.

Guiding Silver to the 5th Airtel Top 8 final, Mgangira believes his team is tuned up to the task.

“The team is ready for the final, though we have a few injuries. Regardless of the results against Bullets in the past games, we are confident of getting a result come Sunday. We feel this is our opportunity to change the narrative, and the players know the importance of this match; there are medals and prize money at stake. The good thing is the majority of the players we have, have what it takes to take the game home,” said Mgangira.

Guiding Bullets to the 6th Airtel Top 8 final, Mponda has shared that Bullets have no excuses but to win the final, as he is impressed with what he has seen in training.

“Just being in the finals is a motivation. The guys have worked so hard to be here, and I don’t think they can throw it away when it matters the most. The guys know the importance of this game; they know the pressure that finals bring. They are very ready for the final. We need to finish the game in the 90 minutes, so we will play to find a balance between attack and defense,” explained Mponda.

The gaffer also shared that their opponents have the upper hand, as they have almost the whole team they had last year.

The Central Bankers are going into the final without their skipper Chikondi Kamanga, Precious Sambani, and Festus Duwe — who is leading the scorers in the tournament with his 3 goals in 3 games — all out with injuries.

On the other end, the Red Army will only miss the services of left-back Chrispin Mapemba, who has been sidelined for a long time now due to injury. Otherwise, all players are available for selection.

This year already, Bullets beat Silver 1-0 in the opening match of the TNM Super League, while Silver beat Bullets 2-0 in the FCB 30 Years Trophy.