In a sunny afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium where the heat rose like a curtain before a grand drama, Mighty Wanderers produced a performance that will echo far beyond the scorching stands.
The derby that divides Blantyre turned into a statement of supremacy as the Nomads thrashed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets 3-0, breaking a 15-year-old record and completing a historic double in the 2025 TNM Super League.
The air was thick with tension and expectation, and yet from the opening whistle, it was Wanderers who moved with purpose. Their passing was sharper, their pressing bolder, and their rhythm irresistible. Within the first ten minutes, the blue side of Blantyre dictated the tempo, forcing Bullets to chase shadows as the fans roared from the packed terraces.
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At the 15th minute, Wanderers nearly broke the deadlock when goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu fumbled under pressure from Blessings Mwalilino. The loose ball fell kindly for Wisdom Mpinganjira, but defender Khumbo Banda intervened with a desperate clearance that conceded a corner. Mpinganjira, however, could not continue after picking up a knock, and Wallace Adam came on to replace him in the 22nd minute.
Barely sixty seconds later, the substitute announced his arrival with a strike of precision and intent. Adam connected beautifully with a ball falling off Muhammad Sulumba’s head, who had been teed up by an excellent cross from Stanley Sanudi, guiding the ball past Nyasulu to put Wanderers ahead. It was a goal crafted in confidence and finished in class.
Bullets thought they had drawn level at the half-hour mark, but the assistant referee’s flag ruled otherwise. Their joy was fleeting, their frustration visible. They looked disjointed, their midfield sluggish, their attack uninspired.
Coach Peter Mponda responded swiftly, making a double change in the 35th minute: Mike Mkwate and Wongani Lungu came in for Hassan Kajoke and Paul Master, but the rhythm remained broken.
By the time the halftime whistle arrived, the hosts were fortunate to trail by only a single goal. Wanderers had carved chance after chance, with Mwalilino tormenting defenders and Sulumba missing narrowly before the break. The 1-0 lead was modest compared to their dominance.
When the second half resumed, Bullets tried to ignite a spark. Henry Chiwaya and Babatunde Adepoju replaced Khumbo Banda and Ephraim Kondowe, but Wanderers refused to be contained. Mwalilino almost doubled the lead moments later, forcing a save from Nyasulu.
In the 59th minute, Wanderers made another inspired substitution: Blessings Singini came in for Muhammad Sulumba, and what a masterstroke it proved to be.
Seventeen minutes later, Singini struck a thunderbolt from about 30 yards, the ball kissing the upright before diving into the net. The stadium erupted. It was a goal that mirrored the moment, stunning, unexpected, and unstoppable.
The Nomads were not done yet. In the 81st minute, coach Bob Mpinganjira shuffled his deck again, introducing Clement Nyondo, Promise Kamwendo, and Masiya Manda for Blessings Mwalilino, Rajab Nyirenda, and Wallace Adam.
Five minutes later, they sealed the derby in style. Singini, again, delivered a poacher’s finish from close range that made it 3-0. The Wanderers’ section of the stands turned into a sea of blue celebration.
The referee’s whistle confirmed what everyone already knew, a day owned by the Nomads. Captain Felix Zulu, who marshalled the midfield with composure and command, was rightly named Player of the Match.
The result rewrote history. For the first time since 2010, Mighty Wanderers beat Bullets by a margin of at least two goals in a league match. It was also the first time Bullets had suffered such a heavy defeat to any Super League side since that year. The loss marked their fourth in 21 games this season, a statistic that whispers of cracks in a once-invincible wall.
The Title Picture: Shadows and Shifts
With the league composed of sixteen teams each playing thirty matches across two rounds, the battle for the championship is entering a defining stretch. Bullets, long seen as the gold standard of consistency, have stumbled at crucial stages, their defensive lapses and attacking indecision becoming uncharacteristic hallmarks of recent performances.
Wanderers, meanwhile, have rekindled their chase. The victory not only completes a league double over their eternal rivals following their 1-0 win earlier in the season courtesy of Mwalilino but also narrows the gap at the top.
With their current momentum, they have transformed the title race from a procession into a contest as Bullets boast 49 points, just a point above Wanderers, who have a game in hand which they will play at home against a struggling Songwe Border United. Bullets have now played 21 games compared to Wanderers 20.
Bullets still sit at the summit, but their cushion has thinned. Teams like Silver Strikers and Wanderers are breathing down their necks, each result now carrying the weight of destiny. Should Wanderers maintain this form, they could get their hands on the trophy that eluded them eight years ago in 2017.
The sun that blazed over Kamuzu Stadium bore witness to more than just a match; it marked a shift in power, a reminder that football’s balance tilts toward the bold. And on this blistering afternoon, it was Mighty Wanderers who dared, dazzled, and conquered.
Photo by Martin Mpungah/ 442 Malawi
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