George Chaomba’s second-half opener was cancelled out by Allen Chihana as FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were held to a 1-1 draw by Ekhaya FC in Saturday night’s Airtel Top 8 quarterfinal first-leg encounter at Bingu National Stadium.
Chaomba gave The People’s Team a deserved lead shortly after the restart, finishing off a well-worked move involving Misheck Billiat and Maxwell Phodo.
However, Chihana struck midway through the second half to earn the visitors a share of the spoils and leave the tie finely balanced ahead of next month’s return leg at Mpira Stadium.
The result denied the new Bullets head coach victory in his first match in charge despite the hosts creating the better chances over the course of the contest.
Chaomba and Kajoke Go Close
Ekhaya started brightly and won an early corner, but Bullets gradually settled into the game and began creating the clearer openings.
Chaomba was first to threaten when he raced onto a long ball from the back before firing wide in the 10th minute.
A minute later, the winger turned provider, beating his marker before picking out Lungu, whose effort drifted narrowly wide of the target.
Maule continued to push forward. Kajoke first failed to bring the ball under control after being found by Chaomba inside the six-yard box before heading wide from close range moments later after meeting another inviting delivery from the winger.
Kajoke then came closest to breaking the deadlock when Chaomba released him through on goal, but former Bullets goalkeeper Clever Mkungula raced off his line to make an important intervention.
Ekhaya carried a threat of their own and Nyasulu was required to produce a fine one-on-one save late in the half to keep the scores level.
The visitors were then forced into an early change five minutes before the break when Samuel Rukura was stretchered off through injury and replaced by Aubrey Simbi.
Bullets had one final opportunity before the break when Gumbo headed wide from Kalambo’s corner, sending the two sides into halftime locked at 0-0.
Chaomba Breaks the Deadlock
Bullets made an immediate double substitution at the start of the second half, introducing Billiat and Ephraim Kondowe for Kalambo and Kajoke.
The move paid instant dividends.
Just a minute into the second half, Billiat released Phodo, who squared for Chaomba to finish and hand Bullets a deserved 1-0 lead.
The hosts nearly doubled their advantage moments later when Chaomba again caused problems and picked out Kondowe inside the box, but the forward could not make contact with the low cross.
Chihana Restores Parity
Ekhaya gradually grew into the contest and found the equaliser in the 69th minute when Chihana scored for the visitors.
The goal shifted momentum and Ekhaya enjoyed their best spell of the match as they searched for a second goal.
Masinja nearly completed the turnaround three minutes later, but his effort drifted wide after the visitors broke forward on the counterattack.
Bullets responded with further changes as Madalitso Safuli, Yamikani Mologeni and Aaron Chilipa were introduced.
Mkungula Denies Late Winner
Gumbo tested the Ekhaya defence with a powerful effort that earned a corner, while Chaomba continued to be a constant threat in attack.
The winger thought he had created another opening late on when he released Billiat, who found Kondowe, but the assistant referee’s flag denied Bullets.
Chaomba then came within inches of restoring Bullets’ lead when his effort struck the woodwork, although the move was eventually halted for offside.
Deep into stoppage time, Maule were handed one final opportunity to snatch victory.
Chaomba found himself through on goal, but Mkungula raced off his line to produce a superb save and preserve the draw.
The result leaves the quarterfinal finely poised ahead of the return leg at Mpira Stadium next month.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets XI
24 Innocent Nyasulu; 4 Blessings Mpokera (C), 26 Emmanuel Kaunga, 31 Prince Chiumia (30 Aaron Chilipa 79′); 8 Paul Master, 29 Chawanangwa Gumbo, 19 Wongani Lungu (12 Madalitso Safuli 61′); 20 Maxwell Phodo (2 Yamikani Mologeni 79′), 11 Clever Kalambo (28 Misheck Billiat 45′); 22 George Chaomba, 9 Hassan Kajoke (13 Ephraim Kondowe 45′).
Substitutes Not Used
1 Pilirani Mapira, 6 Frank Willard, 7 Peter Banda, 21 Andrew Jovinala.
Ekhaya FC XI
31 Clever Mkungula; 14 Andrew Lameck (C), 4 Vincent Salawila, 7 Isaiah Nyirenda, 17 Hermas Masinja, 20 Allen Chihana, 21 Charles Mafaiti (19 Happy Mphepo 50′), 25 James Lumbe, 29 Samuel Rukura (5 Aubrey Simbi 40′), 47 Blessings Malinda (8 Moses Banda 76′), 98 Levison Mnyenyembe (11 Chimwemwe Chunga 45′).
Substitutes Not Used
9 Sholigah Stambuli, 13 Lucky Tizola, 16 Joseph Saiwa, 23 Wongani Kaponya, 42 Alfred Chizinga.
Match Statistics
Goals: George Chaomba 46′ (Bullets), Allen Chihana 69′ (Ekhaya FC).
Bookings: Prince Chiumia (Bullets), Allen Chihana (Ekhaya FC).
Match Details
Fixture: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets vs Ekhaya FC
Competition: Airtel Top 8 Quarterfinal First Leg
Date: 13 June 2026
Venue: Bingu National Stadium, Lilongwe
Result: Bullets 1-1 Ekhaya FC
