Bullets slip from favorites to win to favorites to lose it: How the Title Race Turned on Its Head

Just days ago, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets appeared destined for glory. With a superior goal difference and buoyed by Mighty Wanderers’ shocking 2-1 defeat to Mzuzu City Hammers, the championship seemed theirs for the taking. Yet in the cruel theatre of football, fortunes can reverse with brutal swiftness. Now, following their own devastating loss at the very stadium where Wanderers stumbled, Bullets find themselves no longer masters of their destiny.

The venue that broke Wanderers’ hearts last week has now shattered Bullets’ title dreams. The damage may prove irreparable. What was once firmly in their control now rests in the hands of others, as they must hope rival teams can halt the resurgent Wanderers, who are poised to claim their first league title since 2017.

Bullets arrived at Wednesday’s clash against Moyale Barracks brimming with confidence after their commanding 2-0 victory over Karonga United at the weekend. A win would have positioned them perfectly to reclaim the crown they surrendered to Silver Strikers in 2024, following an unprecedented five consecutive title triumphs from 2018 to 2023.

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Instead, Lameck Mithi delivered a devastating double blow. His brace late in the first half condemned Bullets to their sixth defeat of the campaign—their worst seasonal record since the calamitous 2011-12 season, when eight losses saw them finish 11th in a 15-team table, their nadir in the Super League era.

Mithi’s goals, scored within a nine-minute span, were complemented by Moyale’s resolute defensive display in the second half. The dejection etched on players’ faces as they boarded the team bus spoke volumes: they understood the title was slipping through their fingers.

The striker became the first Moyale player to score twice against Bullets since Lloyd Njaliwa’s double in a thrilling 4-4 FDH Bank Cup quarterfinal draw in 2022, and Kuda Muyaba in the 2017 Fisd Challenge Cup.

Moyale’s victory was all the more remarkable given their circumstances. Fresh from a humbling 3-0 defeat to Civil Service United in the capital on Sunday, they managed just one training session on Tuesday before Wednesday’s encounter. Yet there were no signs of fatigue against Bullets. Instead, they produced their finest performance of the season to secure only their third victory in regulation time against Bullets since 2008.

Their previous triumphs came via Bkack Allisen’s solitary strike in 2017 and Lloyd Njaliwa’s goal in 2021—both 1-0 victories. This latest win carries even greater significance as Moyale battle simultaneously for Airtel Top 8 qualification and league survival.

Entering the match in 11th place with 33 points from eight wins, nine draws, and nine losses, Moyale desperately needed the three points to escape the relegation quagmire. The victory lifted them to 36 points and 10th position, breathing new life into their survival campaign.

A Season of Self-Inflicted Wounds

Should Bullets fail to capture the championship, few could argue they haven’t reaped what they’ve sown. The campaign has been marred by turmoil—player departures, staff exits, and a crippling transfer ban have created a perfect storm of dysfunction.

The club’s failure to secure players with timely contract offers proved catastrophic. Gomezgani Chirwa and Nixon Nyasulu departed on free transfers to Zimbabwe-based clubs, while Collin Mujuru was released and Ronald Chitiyo’s contract was unlawfully terminated—the latter transgression resulting in a FIFA-imposed transfer ban.

Perhaps most damaging was the Alick Lungu saga. When the defender requested a pay rise in his new contract, the club refused and effectively forced him out by barring him from training with approximately five months remaining on his existing deal. While disagreements over contracts are understandable, the club’s failure to adequately replace departing talent has proven disastrous.

Bullets’ replacement signings raised eyebrows from the outset. They acquired the aging Blessings Joseph from Chitipa United, unproven Andrew Jovinala from Blue Eagles (who spent 2024 in the Central Region League), Chikumbutso Henderson from Mzuzu Hammers, and Henry Chiwaya from Southern Region League side Nyambadwe United.

Clyde Senaji was the sole established defender retained from the 2024 squad. However, the Kenyan’s relationship with head coach Peter Mponda deteriorated publicly, with Mponda controversially declaring on camera that Senaji was “not a very important player.” The defender subsequently returned to Kenya to join Kenya Commercial Bank FC.

Henderson, signed before the season commenced, was released after the first round without playing a single competitive minute. The club also lost Lloyd Aaron Banega mid-season to a Qatari club. None of these departures have been adequately addressed.

Defensive Collapse

The statistics tell a damning story. After conceding merely one goal in their opening six matches while scoring 20, Bullets appeared impregnable. They had conceded just eight goals through 15 matches despite suffering three defeats—their worst first-round record since 2011-12, when they lost four times to Escom United, Mighty Wanderers, EPAC FC, and Mighty Tigers.

Seasonal Goal Totals & Rankings

The defensive deterioration has been stark: from one goal conceded in six matches, to eight in 15, to 20 through 27 matches. They now risk surpassing their record of 21 goals conceded, set in 2016, with matches still remaining.

Offensively, Bullets have been prolific, netting 54 goals in 27 matches. Yet as Sir Alex Ferguson famously observed: “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.” The legendary Manchester United manager’s wisdom has never rung truer than for this Bullets side.

Early in the season, Mponda’s tactical innovations—emphasizing possession and converting midfielders to defensive roles—appeared inspired. Yankho Singo and Blessings Mpokera, both natural midfielders, became the foundation of Bullets’ backline.

However, Mpokera’s injury has arguably accelerated the defensive decline. In the three matches without him, Bullets have conceded four goals. In the previous 24 games with Mpokera available, they had conceded just 16.

Looking ahead, Bullets face a significant obstacle in addressing their defensive frailties. The FIFA ban imposed following Chitiyo’s unlawful contract termination prevents them from entering the transfer market unless they pay the required fine. Their ability to strengthen for future campaigns remains in jeopardy.

After 27 matches, Bullets’ record reads: 19 wins, two draws, six defeats, 54 goals scored, and 20 conceded. Most painfully, they’ve lost two of their last three matches—a collapse that prompted assistant coach Gilbert Chirwa to issue a public apology.

“We have lost, of course we had several chances which we didn’t utilize—nothing else we can say,” Chirwa acknowledged. “We will keep fighting, though I know for sure that we have made things difficult for ourselves. We will continue encouraging our players.

“The biggest mistake we made was allowing Moyale to score two goals while we squandered about four clear chances. In football, if you don’t score, you can’t win. We have absorbed this painful defeat. We should have taken the game to them. We are apologizing to our supporters.”

Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers are both gathering momentum. Should Wanderers defeat Karonga United this afternoon, they will move three points clear of Bullets. Silver Strikers, meanwhile, could draw level on points with Bullets should they win their game in hand

Recent Form (Last 5 Games)

Silver have emerged as the form team among the title contenders, winning their last five matches without conceding a single goal. Their defensive solidity stands in stark contrast to Bullets’ vulnerability.

For FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, the question is no longer whether they will win the title, but whether they can salvage their season from the wreckage of poor planning, fractured relationships, and defensive fragility. What began as a procession toward a sixth consecutive championship has devolved into a desperate scramble to remain relevant in a title race that has emphatically slipped from their grasp.

The cruel irony is that Bullets have scored more goals than anyone. But as Ferguson knew, and as Bullets are learning the hard way, titles are built on defensive foundations—and theirs has crumbled when it mattered most.