FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will be in the Capital City on Saturday afternoon for the return leg of the Airtel Top 8 quarterfinals against Civil Service United at Civo Stadium.
The defending champions go into this match with a 2-0 advantage over the Lilongwe side. Kalisto Pasuwa’s men hope to advance into the semis for the fourth consecutive campaign.
Bullets and the Servants meet for a third time this season following their encounters in the first round of the TNM Super League and the first leg of the Airtel Top 8, both matches played in Blantyre.
FORM GUIDE
We are coming off a record-breaking 22-1 win over Kumanda All Stars in the Castel Challenge Cup Round of 64.
Before meeting the non-league side, Bullets recorded four wins out of five TNM Super League encounters.
Pasuwa’s men defeated Chitipa United 4-2 and Creck Sporting Club 3-2 and recorded 1-0 victories over Baka City and Mafco FC. We drew 0-0 against Mzuzu City Hammers.
These results saw the 2023 quadruple winners move to third place in the league standings for the first time this season.
As for the opponents, they recently registered a hard-fought 2-1 win over Napolo FC in the Castel Challenge Cup Round of 64. Before this knockout match, Civil were 1-0 winners over Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos and Moyale Barracks in the league.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
In the league, we have been unbeaten against Civil for the last 13 seasons, but we have lost two cup games to our opponents.
In the last ten years, the Lilongwe-based side has become a familiar opponent in knockout competitions, and we have met them six times.
Our first meeting was in 2015 in the Standard Bank Cup semis. James Chilapondwa had given Bullets a first-half lead, but Raphael Phiri scored two quick goals in the second half to inspire the Servants to a memorable victory over The People’s Team.
In 2023, we met three times. The first meeting was the first quarterfinal leg of the Airtel Top 8 at the Civo Stadium. A strike each from Maxwell Phodo and Hassan Kajoke inspired Bullets to a comfortable 2-0 win. However, the battle was far from over as Civil staged a stunning comeback in the second leg, beating Pasuwa’s men 2-1 in Blantyre. We progressed to the semis with a 3-2 aggregate win.
The two teams met again in the Castel Challenge Cup Round of 16. The match came days after Pasuwa’s charges had retained the TNM Super League championship, winning it for the fifth consecutive season.
Bullets showed no mercy as they hammered Civil 3-0 to advance to the last eight of the competition in its inaugural season.
In the 2024 FDH Bank Cup quarterfinals, Pasuwa’s men needed a last-minute strike from substitute Precious Phiri to beat their opponents 1-0 to advance to the semifinals.
In the first leg of the Airtel Top 8, a strike each from Stanley Billiat and Chawanangwa Gumbo gave us a 2-0 victory to go into the final half of the tie on the front foot.
The winners of this stage will set up a semi-final clash against Chitipa United or Kamuzu Barracks, who face off on Sunday. Chitipa has a 2-0 lead over the Chiwoko soldiers.
TEAM NEWS
Wongani Lungu, injured during our league game against Mafco, is part of the travelling squad and is available for selection against the Servants on Saturday afternoon.
Mike Mkwate and Anthony Mfune remain sidelined on the road to their full recoveries.
Bullets will also welcome midfielder Lloyd Aaron back from his international duty with Malawi in the recent International Break.
KICK-OFF TIME AND HOW TO WATCH THE MATCH
Our return match against Civil in the Airtel Top 8 quarterfinals is scheduled for 15h00. You can catch all the action live on Mpira TV. It will also be streamed on FIFA+. You can also catch all the match updates on our Facebook and X (Twitter) channels.
MATCH OFFICIALS
For the first time in six years, Misheck Juba, who officiated our controversial final against Blue Eagles in the same competition in Lilongwe in 2018, returns to take charge of this tie.
Referee: Mayamiko Kanjere
Assistant Referee 1: Lameck Phiri
Assistant Referee 2: Mussa Grant
Fourth Official: Lackson Chunda
Match Commissioner: Goodal Chinjoka
