This Saturday afternoon, Kamuzu Stadium sets the stage for the 78th edition of the Blantyre derby, where Mighty Wanderers welcome FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the TNM Super League.
It’s always a battle for crucial points and city bragging rights. Currently, these fierce rivals are separated by only one place and five points at the summit of the top-flight table.
Peter Mponda’s side leads with 18 points from six matches, while Bob Mpinganjira’s squad sits second with 13 points and a game in hand.
Looking back at previous encounters since 2010, we take you through this storied rivalry between The People’s Team and the Nomads in the Super League of Malawi.
In the 2010 season, Bullets triumphed over Wanderers in the first round with a 3-1 victory, thanks to a brace from Komani Msiska and a strike from Charles Kalaire. However, in the return fixture, the Lali Lubani side responded emphatically, avenging their loss with a commanding 3-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Joseph Kamwendo, Nafe Musasa, and Moses Chavula.
The 2011 campaign saw Wanderers edge Bullets 2-1 after Henry Kabichi opened the scoring for The People’s Team, and the Nomads mounted a second-half comeback with a brilliant strike from Kamwendo and a powerful header by John Dzimbiri. Completing the double that season, Wanderers claimed another 2-1 win to take all six points from their rivals.
In 2012, our neighbours picked up where they had left off the previous year, starting the season with another 2-1 victory against us. However, Bullets halted their run with a decisive 3-0 win, powered by a Gabadinho Mhango brace and a strike from Chimango Kayira. That year, Bullets pushed Silver Strikers all the way in the title race, with both teams finishing on 58 points; however, the Bankers were crowned champions on goal difference.
The 2013 season kicked off with a 1-1 draw before the second leg ended goalless—the first derby stalemate after three years, with both teams collecting two points from a possible six.
In 2014, Bullets began to assert their dominance, winning 2-0 through goals from Jimmy Zakazaka and Tizgowere Kumwenda. A narrow 1-0 win followed in the reverse fixture, thanks to a first-half effort from Pilirani Zonda in a season when Bullets celebrated their first league title since the 2005/06 campaign.
2015 brought continued success for Bullets. Goals from Chiukepo Msowoya and Jafali Chande secured a 2-1 first-round win, followed by a lone Msowoya strike to seal a 1-0 victory—helping The People’s Team on their way to a 12th Super League title.
In 2016, Kondwani Kumwenda—having switched allegiance from Wanderers—scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Bullets. The return leg saw a 1-1 stalemate, with Chiukepo Msowoya and Amos Bello on the scoresheet. Bullets took four points from six but narrowly missed out on retaining the title, finishing a point behind winners Kamuzu Barracks.
The 2017 fixtures produced another 1-1 draw—Rafique Mussa for Wanderers, Chiukepo Msowoya for Bullets—followed by a hard-fought 1-0 Bullets win at Bingu National Stadium, courtesy of Emmanuel Zoya. Despite the setback, Wanderers clinched the title, finishing two points ahead of Bullets.
In 2018, both matches were tightly contested. Bullets and Wanderers played out a 1-1 draw, with goals from legends Fischer Kondowe and Esau Kanyenda. The second encounter ended 0-0.
The 2019 derbies failed to produce a goal in either fixture, as both matches finished 0-0.
In the 2020/21 season, the first meeting ended 1-1 after Stanley Sanudi’s opener was cancelled out by Yunus Sheriff’s own goal. Wanderers claimed bragging rights in the second fixture, with Vincent Nyangulu’s first-half strike sealing a 1-0 triumph.
In 2022, Bullets launched their campaign with a 2-1 win over their rivals via goals from Chimwemwe Idana and Anthony Mfune. In the reverse fixture, Wanderers came from behind to secure a pulsating 3-3 draw—goals from Stanley Sanudi, Miracle Gabeya, and Muhammad Sulumba nullifying efforts by Lanjesi Nkhoma, Patrick Mwaungulu, and Idana for Bullets.
In the 2023 quadruple-winning season, both league encounters ended in stalemates. Stanley Sanudi put the Nomads ahead, with Maxwell Phodo equalizing for the points to be shared following a 1-1 draw. The return leg ended with another deadlock, 0-0.
The 2024 meetings commenced with Mwaungulu leveling Isaac Kaliyati’s opener for a 1-1 draw. In the following match, Babatunde Adepoju’s brace clinched a 2-1 victory for Bullets, while Wanderers found a late consolation through Thierry Samar Tajong.
Over the past 14 seasons, Bullets and Wanderers have met on 28 occasions in the league. The red side of Blantyre has claimed victory 11 times, while 12 encounters have ended in draws. The blue side has managed to secure five wins. The two teams have scored a total of 53 goals, with Bullets netting 30 and Wanderers 23.
