Past wounds, present battle: Eagles face Mafco after relegation heartbreak

A simmering sense of revenge hangs in the air at Nankhaka Stadium this afternoon as Blue Eagles prepare to face Mafco FC. This isn’t just another league fixture; for the Area 30-based Cops, it’s a chance to settle a score with the military men who, in a cruel twist of fate, confirmed their relegation from the elite league in 2023 with a 2-1 victory on this very ground.

The memory of that final day of the 2023 season is still fresh for Blue Eagles. Starting 9th on the log, they plummeted into the Championship, marking arguably one of the hardest lows in their history. While Red Lions suffered a 7-0 hammering at the hands of Moyale Barracks, it was Mafco’s stunning win over the Eagles that ultimately sealed their fate, effectively keeping Moyale in the top flight.

Coach Nsakakuona downplays revenge narrative

Despite the palpable history, Blue Eagles Head Coach Derklerk Nsakakuona was quick to downplay the revenge narrative in the build-up to today’s crucial encounter.

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“No! This is just a normal game, we will have the same approach,” Nsakakuona asserted. “But as a team, we are set to get a good result against Mafco. I know it won’t be an easy game, it has been tough facing them, whether in a cup game or league, home or away.”

Nsakakuona’s recent permanent appointment as head coach, replacing Eliah Kananji, adds another layer to the narrative. Having served as interim coach for the last two games, Nsakakuona makes his official return to the Eagles dugout for the first time since 2019, when he joined the Football Association of Malawi as the coach for the Malawi U-17 team.

“The boys did well against Silver,” he reflected on their last outing. “We got a goal but unfortunately we conceded a goal. They are improving every day, we have polished up and we have to be ready for Saturday’s game.”

Expressing gratitude to the club’s management, Nsakakuona added, “I have to thank the management of Blue Eagles for the trust. They approached me, and I accepted the offer. I’m now a full-time coach, I have been at Eagles since 2009 and I know that people are looking forward to seeing the team doing well, I have good memories, I’m set for the job and try to motivate the players.”

This afternoon’s clash sees two teams in starkly contrasting positions. Blue Eagles, making a triumphant return to the elite league after spending the 2024 season in the Chipiku Central Region League, currently sit an impressive 5th on the log table.

Their comeback has been lauded, with a banner at Kamuzu Stadium’s opening match against Mighty Wanderers proclaiming, “League singakome opanda alonda” (The league isn’t sweet without the guards) – a testament to their role as “league decorators.” They even came close to stunning Silver Strikers last weekend, only for the Bankers to snatch a last-minute equalizer.

The Eagles have lost just two matches since their return, falling to Mighty Wanderers and Civil Service United. They’ve secured three wins against Mighty Tigers, Songwe Border United, and Mzuzu City Hammers, alongside four draws against Silver, Ekhaya FC, Moyale Barracks, and Creck Sporting Club.

Conversely, Mafco FC find themselves fifth from bottom, with a mere two wins from their eight games this season. They’ve already suffered five losses, succumbing to Karonga United, Kamuzu Barracks, Mighty Wanderers, Creck Sporting, and Moyale Barracks. Their only victories have come at home against Chitipa United and Mzuzu City Hammers.

Adding to the recent form, Blue Eagles are winless in their last two matches, collecting just two points, while Mafco FC are on a four-game winless streak.

In 35 encounters since 2010 across all competitions, Blue Eagles hold the historical advantage with 16 wins to Mafco FC’s 10. Nine matches between the two security forces have ended in a stalemate.