Wanderers Women Give Ntopwa Real Reality Check Ahead of COSAFA Trip

Mighty Wanderers Women have claimed their third away victory in the National Bank of Malawi National Women’s Premiership in style after handing Kukoma Ntopwa Queens their first defeat of the season in a 1-0 win at Mpira Stadium on Friday afternoon.

The Nomads put in a spirited performance in one of the best and tightest matches of the inaugural tournament as they showed brilliance in attack and defense with Faluna Umali netting the lone goal of the match in the second minute of added time in the first half.

The hosts are set to travel to South Africa where they will compete in the COSAFA CAF Women’s Championship and were scheduled to leave on Friday evening but were given a tough farewell by the Nomads.

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The victors have a team full of youngsters that gave Ntopwa a good test ahead of the continental showpiece as the country’s representatives were caught offside 10 times in the game and also made three serious defensive errors which need to be fixed.

However, the Nomads showed brilliance as Wezzie Mhango stood firm at the heart of the defense, captain Funny Moyo controlled things in midfield while player of the match Faluna Umali and Atuweni Njilima drove the team on the wings to trouble Ntopwa’s defense.

It was a match where Ntopwa started well in the first 10 minutes trying to get an early goal but the Nomads started playing football afterwards when Njilima narrowly missed the far post on 11 minutes while Umali hit the upright 6 minutes later from a free kick.

Ntopwa then took over dominance as Kondau Banda failed to deal with Olivia Phikani’s low cross then Phikani blasted her attempt from a free kick over the bar before Tawina Kawaga’s weak shot failed to trouble Mercy Sikelo and then Funny Moyo’s through ball found Umali who lifted it into the roof of the net to score in the 45th minute plus two minutes of added time.

Isaac Jomo Osman reacted with a triple substitution at halftime as Esther Chauluka, Alice Brazi and Takondwa Gambuleni replaced Chimwemwe Bonongwe, Lydia Mchochoma and Mary Chindeya. Moyo and Kawaga came close but missed before the Nomads survived a potential own goal after goalkeeper Esther Maulidi’s miscued clearance hit Wezzie Mhango and Maulidi cleared it off the line in the 55th minute.

Gambuleni missed a great chance on the hour-mark after failing to connect with Kondau Banda’s inviting cross before Shira Mangani and Grace Khunga replaced Annie Kalirangwe and Esmy Chisale. Sarah Mlimbika sent her free kick straight to Maulidi and Chauluka and Brazi were taken back to the bench for Lonney Makalani and Florence Benjamin.

The Nomads were denied their second goal as Umali’s dipping cross into the box found Kawaga who sent it into the net but the flag was already up for offside before Benjamin shot from distance but the ball went over and the Nomads held on for the win.

Head coach for Mighty Wanderers Women, Thom Kazembe, thanked his players for fighting for the win.
“It was a tough game but I’m happy that we have won today, the players did well today and it’s a sweet victory,” said Kazembe.

Meanwhile, Isaac Jomo Osman of Kukoma Ntopwa thanked his players for their fighting spirit in the game, however, he has criticized the Football Association of Malawi for scheduling them to play while they are set to travel to South Africa.

“It was a very good game, the players played well but I feel we were not supposed to play today as the players have the journey on their minds and were also afraid of picking up injuries. It’s painful but we move on,” said Osman.

The Nomads have won three matches on the road and lost one at home in their opening four matches as they have 9 points in third position while Ntopwa remain second on the table with 9 points as well from three wins and one defeat.