Mighty Wanderers have received a morale booster ahead of the prestigious Blantyre Derby in the TNM Super League after thumping Blue Eagles 3-1 at the Nankhaka Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The Nomads scored their three goals in the first half through a brace from Blessings Mwalilino, who was set up by Muhammad Sulumba for both goals, and one from Isaac Kaliati from the spot.
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Meanwhile, the game has produced a number of positives ahead of their top-of-the-table clash against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets on Sunday in a game which could decide the team with more advantage to win the League.
Wanderers score three in first half
The Nomads have had problems scoring goals in the first half. For their past 10 games, they managed to score only two goals in the first 45 minutes across all competitions, with both goals scored by Blessings Singini against Mzuzu City Hammers and Chitipa United.
During this period, the Nomads scored 7 goals in the second half across all competitions they played, which highlighted their struggle in the first half and tactical improvement in the last 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, they managed to score three goals in the first half against Blue Eagles on Wednesday, which is an improvement and one of the notable positives, but then failed to score in the half where they usually get more goals.
Goals come ahead of Derby
There has been concern from the Nomads fans after the team struggled to score goals despite creating many chances in the League.
The Nomads last scored two goals in a match on 11 September 2025 when they beat Mzuzu City Hammers 2-1 in a Cup game and last scored three on 16 August 2025 when they beat MAFCO 3-1, also in the Cup.
Their last time scoring three goals in the League was on 15 June when they beat Kamuzu Barracks 3-0 at the Champions Stadium, and head coach Bob Mpinganjira noted that and promised to work on it.
Meanwhile, the Nomads looked hungry against Blue Eagles as they scored three for the first time in four months in the League, despite missing more chances that could have extended the number of goals in the game.
“It’s good that our team performed exceptionally well. I am also particularly happy that our strikers performed well. You know we were experiencing goal droughts in previous games, but I knew it was just a matter of time and we would get back to our scoring ways,” said Mpinganjira.
Strikers find their feet, confidence
The main sources of goals at Wanderers have been midfielders, as strikers have struggled to score for the team. Prior to the Eagles game, Wisdom Mpinganjira had been the team’s top scorer in the League with five goals that he scored earlier in the first round.
In their past 10 games, the Nomads had scored just 9 goals, and 7 of those goals came from midfielders. Blessings Singini scored three while Isaac Kaliati and Felix Zulu shared two goals each, and Blessings Mwalilino and Muhammad Sulumba each scored one goal.
Against Eagles, the Nomads scored three goals, which is 33.3 percent of their total goals in the last 10 games, and two goals were scored by striker Blessings Mwalilino, with both goals assisted by another striker, Muhammad Sulumba, which gives the Nomads confidence ahead of the Derby.
Negative: No clean sheet ahead of Bullets clash
The Nomads had gone four straight games without conceding a goal in the League, having last conceded on 02 August 2025 against Chitipa United. They had conceded just 7 goals in 18 games in the league, and their goalkeeper, Dalitso Khungwa, had conceded just one goal in 10 games in the league.
The 2017 champions, however, failed to keep a clean sheet as they conceded one goal, making it 8 goals conceded in the League and the second for Khungwa—his first from open play this season.
This could be a cause for concern ahead of the Derby as they meet the highest-scoring team in the League with 48 goals from 20 games, and the last time they failed to score in all competitions was in the Blantyre Derby on 31st May 2025.
Nomads eye first league double in 14 years
The Derby is not only reigniting the rivalry between these two blocs in Blantyre, but points will be vital for any team that wins the game.
The Nomads last beat FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in both home and away games in the 2011 season when they beat the People’s Team 2-1 on 31 July 2011 and on 18 December 2011 with the same margin.
A win will also be a better result as it will take their points to 48, one behind the People’s Team, but the Nomads will be boosted by having a game in hand.
A loss could be a big blow as Bullets will move up to 7 points ahead, and the Nomads’ game in hand may not be enough of a threat to the People’s Team.
The Nomads will go into the derby with their unbeaten run after getting 13 wins and 6 draws in the League to amass 45 points and sit second. They have scored 28 goals as the third highest-scoring team in the League while conceding just 8, making them have the best defence in the league so far.
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