Silver Strikers Set Sights on Second Place After Late Winner Against Mafco

Silver Strikers kept their hopes of finishing second alive with a dramatic late victory over MAFCO at Champion Stadium in Mponela, Dowa, on Saturday.

Nickson John Mwase headed home in the final minute, connecting with a perfectly delivered corner kick from Festus Duwe to secure all three points for the Central Bankers in an entertaining TNM Super League fixture.

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The win takes Silver to 60 points from 28 games, but the title race is over. Mighty Wanderers clinched the championship earlier in the day after thrashing Moyale FC 6-0 to reach 68 points from 29 games. The Nomads still have one fixture remaining against Kamuzu Barracks.

Elsewhere, 10-man Mighty Tigers held FCB Nyasa Big Bullets to a goalless draw at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe, Blantyre. The result leaves Bullets on 63 points from 29 games, with one match remaining against Mzuzu City Hammers.

Silver Strikers and Bullets will now battle for second place on the final day. Silver, with two games left, can reach a maximum of 66 points, while Bullets can finish on 66 if they win their remaining fixture.

Silver Strikers assistant coach Mapopa Kent Msukwa acknowledged that the title defense is over but insisted the team will push hard to finish as runners-up.

“We have heard that Wanderers have won. That means even if we win our remaining games, we cannot reach their points tally. Our focus now is to compete strongly for second position,” he said.

Msukwa praised his players for fighting until the final whistle to secure the late victory.

Silver Strikers goalkeeper George Chikooka was voted Player of the Match after a commanding performance between the posts. The shot-stopper produced a series of fine saves, including denying a powerful header from China Chirwa in the first half, to preserve his team’s clean sheet.

MAFCO’s Relegation Worries Deepen

For MAFCO, the defeat intensifies their relegation fears. The soldiers remain 12th on the table with 31 points and face a crucial fixture against CRECK Sporting Club in their final match.

MAFCO head coach Stereo Gondwe expressed deep disappointment with the result as the pressure continues to mount on his side.

“We played well. There is nothing much we did wrong apart from losing concentration at the very end, and that has cost us. We tried shooting from all angles, but they have a good goalkeeper. He saved them,” he said.

Gondwe admitted his team’s fate is now largely out of their hands.

“We will keep fighting and hope that things can still change. We are playing CRECK next, and they are in good form. We will still work hard to get a positive result. It is difficult to explain this season because we have played well but are not getting the results. Believers say God allows everything to happen for a reason. Whatever happens this season, it is no longer in our control,” lamented Gondwe.

Silver Strikers have officially failed to defend the league title they won last season after an 11-year wait. They lifted the trophy with 68 points last year, while their maximum possible tally this season is 66 points.