Title-chasing Mighty Wanderers have formally lodged a complaint with the Super League of Malawi (SULOM), demanding to be declared winners of their controversial 2-2 draw against Silver Strikers and calling for the match officials to be suspended.
The Nomads saw their opportunity to extend their lead over FCB Nyasa Big Bullets to four points slip away on Saturday following the stalemate with Silver. The match was marred by controversy when Clement Nyondo had a first-half goal disallowed for offside by assistant referee Samuel Fudzulani—a decision Wanderers insist was incorrect.
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The dropped points proved costly as Bullets subsequently leapfrogged Wanderers at the summit following their 4-3 victory over Civil Service United in Blantyre, leaving just one point separating the fierce rivals in the title race.
In a strongly worded letter signed by Chief Executive Officer Panganani Ndovi and addressed to SULOM’s General Secretary—with copies sent to the Football Association of Malawi and National Football Referees Association—Wanderers argue that the disallowed goal was a game-changing moment that unfairly affected the outcome.
“We demand that the result of the match should be corrected to be Mighty Wanderers FC 3 and Silver Strikers 2, and that three points be awarded to Mighty Wanderers FC,” the letter states.
The club argues that the denial of what they describe as a genuine goal robbed them of an opportunity to extend their lead to 2-0, having already been a goal up at the time. The Nomads emphasize that in a tight title race, every point is crucial and they cannot accept dropping points due to what they consider poor and erroneous officiating decisions.
Adding to Wanderers’ grievances, the club has questioned a last-minute change to the officiating crew. According to initial allocations, Alfred Chilinda was designated as the center referee with Clement Kanduku and Samson Wasili as assistants. However, Kanduku was replaced by Fudzulani on match day without explanation from SULOM or the National Referees Association.
Wanderers argue that once officiating allocations have been made, they should not be altered without proper justification. The club was informed that Kanduku had been designated as one of the assistant referees but was inexplicably replaced by Fudzulani, who then made the controversial decision to disallow Nyondo’s goal. Wanderers suspect the substitution may have been made with a hidden agenda or ulterior motive.
In their letter, the Nomads are demanding that the entire officiating crew be suspended pending further investigation, with particular focus on assistant referee Fudzulani. They are also seeking formal assurance that this crew will not be assigned to officiate any future Mighty Wanderers matches. The club maintains that in the interest of fair play, prompt remedial action is necessary as they suspect some elements may have ulterior motives.
SULOM General Secretary Williams Banda confirmed that the league body had not yet received the formal complaint as of yesterday but outlined the procedures Wanderers must follow.
He stated that once received, the complaint will be handled according to SULOM’s rules and regulations, the Laws of the Game, and the FIFA disciplinary code. However, Banda noted that for urgent attention, Wanderers must pay the requisite fees associated with lodging such a complaint.
The controversy adds another dramatic chapter to an increasingly tense title race, with both Wanderers and Bullets locked in a fierce battle for the championship with just a single point separating them at the top of the table.
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