Wanderers Face Ekhaya in Crucial Title Clash as Delayed Fixture Finally Goes Ahead

After all the noise, the game is on and this time it will be played until full time. With no sign of rainfall expected, Mighty Wanderers will be hoping to revive their title chances this afternoon when they face Ekhaya FC at Kamuzu Stadium.

The game was initially scheduled to be played in October, but the Nomads requested the Super League of Malawi (SULOM) to have the match postponed, arguing that they were supposed to play after their cup final against Silver Strikers. SULOM bowed down to the request.

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The game was rescheduled for November 5, but was called off in the 52nd minute due to heavy rain which caused the pitch to become unplayable. The procedures for match abandonment were not properly followed, however.

The highly anticipated match, which was called off before reaching completion, will now be replayed on December 7, 2025, at the same venue. SULOM cited the failure of the original fixture to reach the regulatory maturity stage of 75 minutes of play as the primary reason for ordering a replay.

In a detailed statement released to the public and all football stakeholders, SULOM revealed that its investigation uncovered several deficiencies across multiple parties involved in the organization and execution of the match. The league body emphasized that the abandonment did not result from a single incident but rather from a combination of failures by various stakeholders to fulfill their respective responsibilities and obligations.

SULOM had issued stern warnings to Mighty Wanderers and Ekhaya FC, accompanied by suspended fines of MK5 million each. The penalties stem from both clubs’ failure to comply with their obligations related to order and security, as well as their responsibilities in match preparation and participation.

SULOM had taken the unprecedented step of recommending disciplinary action against the match officials who oversaw the fixture. The league body has formally referred the matter to the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) Referees Committee, citing the officials’ failure to comply with the FIFA Return to Football International Match Protocol as read in conjunction with SULOM rules and regulations.

Sources who were aware of the situation said Wanderers wanted the game to be played at the end of the season. There were divisions among SULOM officials—some wanted to bow down to the demand while others argued that leaving the game to the end of the league would fuel match-fixing concerns due to the relationship that exists between the two teams.

Today is decision day. Mighty Wanderers beat Ekhaya in the first round courtesy of Gaddie Chirwa’s second-half strike. Will it be revenge for Ekhaya, or will the Nomads complete a double over their brothers? A draw is also a possibility.

Ekhaya’s Ambitions: Ekhaya FC are chasing a top-eight finish as they sit fifth with 39 points. With a win, they can match Bangwe All Stars and Creck Sporting Club’s record of most points by a newly promoted team—42 points achieved in the 2023 and 2024 seasons respectively.

But Ekhaya are facing a team that needs points even more than they do. A defeat to Mzuzu City Hammers halted Wanderers from opening a gap over their title rivals Bullets, but redemption is their clear ambition this afternoon.

The Pressure Mounts: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets beat Karonga United 2-0 on Saturday, which clearly gives Wanderers pressure to perform well in their next game.

Coach’s Perspectives

Bob Mpinganjira (Mighty Wanderers Head Coach): “We are ready for the game. We are coming from a loss in Mzuzu, but that’s history, it’s gone, it’s water under the bridge. We now focus on the Ekhaya game. We know that it will also be another tough game, but all the same, we are very ready for it and hope to get a better result.

“We will take this game very seriously. We know that they are a very good team, they have a group of good players, we know that it is going to be tough. We will work very hard, we have already spoken to the guys but we need to work extra hard and it’s a very important game for us. We need maximum points, we really need to win.”

Recent Form: Ekhaya are coming from two back-to-back assignments in the northern hemisphere of Malawi where they played against Karonga United, winning 1-0 before losing to Moyale Barracks in the next game.

Enos Chatama (Ekhaya Head Coach): “Due to time factors, we haven’t had much time to prepare for the game. We arrived yesterday in Blantyre on Friday. Tomorrow, Sunday, we will have a game to play. We played on Thursday, we travelled a long distance—over 700 kilometers, which is quite a long journey. But all in all, as the fixture congestion is, we have to go on the turf and take on Wanderers.

“We are coming from a loss to Moyale and Wanderers lost to Mzuzu City. That does matter—everyone fights for his own life, we want points. We want to step up from 39 points and climb up the ladder. It will be a tough one but we are ready for Wanderers.

“I have just told the guys to be strong, fight from the first whistle until the last whistle. Worst comes to worst, a point will be enough and we don’t want to lose this game. We are waiting for that time to come with eagerness.”

Mighty Wanderers have had a good season until they lost to Hammers, but Bob Mpinganjira said he has talked to his players to forget about that result and focus on the next game.

The Nomads are second with 56 points after playing 25 games. A win over Ekhaya will leave them level on points with Bullets, keeping their title hopes alive in what promises to be a thrilling finish to the season.