Nyasa Big Bullets’ perfect second-round winning run came to an abrupt end on Sunday afternoon as rivals Mighty Wanderers secured a 3-0 victory at Kamuzu Stadium in the highly anticipated Blantyre Derby.
The People’s Team entered the match brimming with confidence after winning their last four games: a 3-0 thrashing of Mafco, a 2-1 victory over Silver Strikers, a 3-0 demolition of Dedza Dynamos, and a 2-1 win against Kamuzu Barracks in the FDH Bank Cup quarter-finals. However, they found themselves unable to overcome their bitter rivals on Sunday.
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For the visitors, the victory maintained their unbeaten record in the 2025 TNM Super League season. Having won the first-round encounter courtesy of a Blessings Mwalilino goal, Wanderers once again proved their superiority in the derby.
Wanderers excelled in all departments, starting with goalkeeper Dalitso Khungwa, who recorded his 10th clean sheet of the season. The shot-stopper made crucial saves to deny Bullets’ Maxwell Phodo and Babatunde Adepoju throughout the match.
In contrast, Bullets’ defense looked disjointed. The backline of Blessings Mpokera, Khumbo Banda, Aaron Chilipa, and Andrew Lameck struggled with coordination and found it difficult to initiate attacks, allowing Wanderers to dominate possession from the first whistle.
Wanderers’ defense was equally impressive. Stanley Sanudi on the right flank kept Chikumbutso Salima quiet, while Timothy Silwimba was brilliant on the left. Emmanuel Nyirenda marshaled the center-back position with authority, rendering Bullets’ attack ineffective.
Bullets’ midfield trio of Frank Willard, Paul Master, and Chawanangwa Gumbo struggled to make an impact. They lost possession cheaply, failed to create meaningful opportunities, and were punished repeatedly.
The combination of Isaac Kaliati and Dan Kumwenda dominated the middle of the park for Wanderers, creating numerous chances while nullifying Bullets’ midfield threat.
Upfront, Bullets’ Hassan Kajoke, Ephraim Kondowe, and Chikumbutso Salima were virtually invisible, registering no serious attempts on Khungwa’s goal. Kajoke’s poor performance saw him substituted in the first half.
Wanderers posed a constant threat going forward. Blessings Mwalilino had two clear scoring opportunities but failed to convert. Muhammad Sulumba and Wisdom Mpinganjira caused problems throughout, while the introduction of youngster Adam Wallace added fresh impetus to the attack. Wallace made an immediate impact, scoring just one minute after coming on in the 22nd minute before Blessings Singini scored twice in the second half.
Bullets goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu was rarely troubled but remained alert when called upon, making five important saves to keep his team in the contest.
Post-Match Reactions
Bullets Head Coach Peter Mponda acknowledged the defeat: “We played against a good team. The boys disappointed us today, and the team was flat. We have a week to address our mistakes and be ready for the next game.”
Wanderers Head Coach Bob Mpinganjira was satisfied with his team’s performance: “It was a good result. We created many chances but were poor in finishing. Winning against Bullets is big motivation—this victory is historic. The FDH Cup game is another challenge, and we will prepare differently for it.”
Despite the loss, Bullets remain top of the TNM Super League table with 49 points from 21 games. They will draw motivation from their FDH Bank Cup progress, having reached the semi-finals where they face Mighty Wanderers once again in another Blantyre Derby showdown next week.
Mighty Wanderers sit second in the table with 48 points from 20 matches, just one point behind Bullets with a game in hand.
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