FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaign ended on Saturday following a 2-0 defeat, 3-2 on aggregate, away to Red Arrows at the Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Bullets went into the match with a 2-1 advantage over the Zambian champions and only needed a goal draw to proceed to the next stage of African football.
However, two second-half goals from the hosts completely dashed The People’s Team’s hopes of advancing to the final qualifying round.
What happened
Kalisto Pasuwa made four changes to the starting XI that defeated Moyale Barracks in the FDH Bank Cup semi-final on Wednesday as Clyde Senaji, Precious Sambani, Lloyd Aaron and Yankho Singo started to replace Blessings Mpokera, Ronald Chitiyo, Chawanangwa Gumbo and Ephraim Kondowe.
The visitors created the first goal-scoring opportunity in the eighth minute through Sambani, who released a powerful shot outside the penalty box to force Charles Kalumba to make the first save.
From there, the hosts took control of the match with their passing game, and they had three corner kicks within five minutes, but Richard Chimbamba rose to the occasion with important saves.
In the 16th minute, Bullets had a chance to pounce on the hosts when Kalumba lost the ball to Singo, who, instead of shooting, played the ball to Babatunde Adepoju, who was completely offside.
With 19 minutes played on the clock, the game was now hitting up as the Airmen increased their intensity while Bullets added more numbers in their defensive zone to protect their area.
The hosts should have scored in the 20th minute when Godfrey Ngwenya rounded off Sambani and Nickson Nyasulu before making his way into the box but Chimbamba did well to deny Red Arrows an opener.
Our ‘keeper was very alert and made another important save in the 24th minute to deny Ngwenya from scoring after Bullets’ defence ball-watched a cross from Paul Katema.
We had a chance in the 31st minute through Willard, who was released by Billiat, unfortunately, the midfielder’s effort went wide.
At the other end, Ricky Banda made a brilliant run into Bullets’ half in the 35th minute before he opened fire only to see his attempt missing Chimbamba’s upright with an inch.
Chimbamba was called into action again in the 37th minute when his brilliant save denied Derrick Bulaya from scoring.
At this moment, Chisi Mbewe’s men were pressing with pace by using the right flank where they added more numbers to keep Bullets defenders at bay.
But it was Aaron who came close to giving us a lead in the 42nd minute when he made an excellent run into the box but went down as he attempted to open fire and Libyan referee Elmabrouk Muhamad turned down the penalty appeal.
In the additional minutes of the half, Banda, who was causing havoc to Bullets’ back four, had a chance to make a breakthrough when he produced a powerful header that forced Chimbamba into making another important save for a corner kick, which he handled with ease, 0-0 the first period ended.
After the recess, the hosts pushed for a goal, and they should have had one in the 47th minute when Ngwenya’s header hit the post, and from the rebound, Nyasulu arrived on time to rescue Bullets from conceding.
Bullets played too deep and invited more pressure from the hosts, who should have had a goal or two in the 51st minute and 53rd minute through Banda, whose efforts missed Chimbamba’s goalmouth with an inch.
The Red Arrows talisman was at it again as he saw his goal-bound shot deflected straight into the arms of Chimbamba in the 57th minute of the contest.
Sensing danger, Pasuwa brought in Blessings Mpokera for Willard in the 60th minute as he looked to regain control of the midfield, which was in the hands of the hosts, while Angel Lubamba came in for Bulaya.
It was now Arrows vs Chimbamba as the shot-stopper produced a save in the 62nd minute, denying Banda from scoring from his powerful effort on the edge of the penalty area.
The more Bullets defended too deep the more the Airmen pressed in numbers in a desperate bid for a goal knowing that only a goal was enough to send them through to the next round after they scored a goal away from home last Sunday.
Indeed, they had to rely on a penalty in the 65th minute. Nyasulu was judged to have brought down Banda inside the area and the referee wasted no time in awarding the Zambian side a penalty, which their captain Yusuf Phiri converted, 1-0.
This goal was a wake-up call to Bullets, who were now keeping possession and moved into the offensive zone with intent, only that we couldn’t open the four-man defensive wall for the hosts.
Pasuwa’s men dropped again, allowing the Zambian champions to find their rhythm again.
In the 68th minute, Banda made another run before sending an inviting cross into the box but Chimbamba was very alert with an important intervention.
Bullets made another change, introducing Ephraim Kondowe for Billiat.
Despite having an advantage, Arrows maintained their aggressiveness, and they nearly dashed Bullets’ hopes of making a comeback in the 73rd minute when Ngwenya played a through ball to Allasane Diarra, who failed to tap in from close range when Chimbamba was already beaten in the line of duty.
With 12 minutes left to play, Yusuf Phiri and Ngwenya were replaced by Thomas Zulu and Anthony Shipanuka. This was a tactical change as Mbewe added another defensive midfielder to kill off the game.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 85th minute through Katema who tapped in a cross from the left side of the field, 2-0. Bullets needed to score a goal to force the match to penalties.
There was a last-minute change for Pasuwa who brought in Chikumbutso Salima for Precious Phiri.
Salima had a last chance in the additional minutes when he made his way to the right flank, but his cross was poorly taken to end our hopes of scoring completely.
What it means
Saturday’s result means the Malawi representatives in African football exited the CAF Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of the Zambian champions.
What next
Bullets will now switch focus to Wednesday’s TNM Super League match against Creck Sporting Club at the Kamuzu Stadium.
