FCB Nyasa Big Bullets emerged from a demanding afternoon at Karonga Stadium with maximum points after defeating Karonga United 1-0 in the FDH Bank Premiership.
Ephraim Kondowe scored the decisive goal in the 38th minute, clinically converting Yamikani Mologeni’s delivery as Bullets overcame the hosts’ early pressure and sustained set-piece threat.
Victory on our first trip to the Northern Region this season lifted The People’s Team to third position with 26 points from 13 matches, level with second-placed Mighty Wanderers and two behind leaders Silver Strikers.
Bullets weather an energetic Karonga start
Wedson Nyirenda made two changes to the side that defeated Chitipa United, with Maxwell Phodo and Misheck Billiat replacing Peter Banda and the suspended Clever Kalambo.
Yankho Singo retained his midfield place for a second successive start under Nyirenda, while Blessings Mpokera continued as captain.
Karonga began with greater urgency and registered the first attempt in the third minute when Steven Steven fired straight into Innocent Nyasulu’s hands.
Bullets responded through Phodo, who advanced before sending a delivery into the penalty area, but no teammate was on hand to meet it.
The hosts looked to apply pressure through set pieces. Innocent Chitete’s fifth-minute free-kick went directly into Nyasulu’s hands before Pilirani Thulu later dropped a long ball into the box, where Emmanuel Kaunga cleared the danger.
Karonga threatened again in the 11th minute when Godfry Siwale picked out Casto Kayuni, but the forward directed his header over the crossbar.
Nyasulu was called upon three minutes later, standing firm to deny Erick Mandanda after the hosts broke quickly and caught the Bullets defence on the counter.
Another dead-ball opportunity followed in the 16th minute, but Kaunga read Thulu’s delivery and cleared his lines.
Having absorbed the hosts’ early pressure, Bullets gradually established a foothold and began carrying a greater threat in the final third.
Billiat’s intelligent work created our first clear opportunity in the 21st minute, releasing Wongani Lungu into a promising position before Eddie Jamu intervened to deny the midfielder.
The contest opened up further as the half progressed. Lungu was unable to capitalise on another opening inside the Karonga box before the hosts broke forward at the opposite end.
Siwale sent a dangerous ball behind our defensive line, but Steven lost his footing at the crucial moment with only Nyasulu to beat.
Bullets appealed for a penalty in the 29th minute when Kondowe went down under a challenge inside the area, but referee Mercy Kayira allowed play to continue.
Kondowe responds with the breakthrough
Karonga earned another free-kick inside the Bullets half in the 35th minute, with Phodo booked for the foul.
Thulu stepped forward, but his delivery went straight into Nyasulu’s hands.
Two minutes later, Mologeni sent an excellent cross into the penalty area, where Kondowe headed wide from inside the six-yard box.
The forward required only another minute to make amends.
Mologeni again found space to deliver, sending an inviting ball into the area for Kondowe, who showed composure to guide his finish beyond Jamu and put us ahead.
Bullets went in search of another before the interval and earned a free-kick in the attacking third, but Karonga defended Mologeni’s delivery.
The hosts won a set piece at the other end after Prince Chiumia conceded a foul, although our defensive unit remained alert to preserve the lead at half-time.
Bullets manage the advantage
Karonga resumed their dead-ball threat after the restart, with Kaunga clearing another delivery in the 50th minute.
Kondowe then drew a foul in a promising position at the other end. Phodo took responsibility for the resulting free-kick but sent his attempt over the crossbar.
The hosts continued directing long balls towards the Bullets penalty area, but Nyasulu commanded his box with assurance.
The goalkeeper comfortably gathered Chitete’s 54th-minute delivery before Nyirenda made his first change four minutes later, introducing Kondwani Tebulo for Phodo.
Nyasulu collected another set piece from Yusuf Adesola Abdul-Waheed on the hour mark as Karonga continued searching for a route back into the contest.
Bullets threatened again in the 63rd minute after forcing a defensive mistake and winning a corner, but the hosts dealt with Mologeni’s delivery.
Karonga made a double substitution four minutes later, introducing Alex Benson and Micheal Mwalilino for Mandanda and Kayuni.
Another free-kick gave the hosts an opportunity to load the penalty area in the 69th minute, but the Bullets defence stood firm and cleared William Mwalwimba’s delivery.
Nyirenda refreshed the midfield three minutes later as Frank Willard replaced Chawanangwa Gumbo, while Karonga introduced Samson Sokanya for Steven in the 76th minute.
Woodwork denies Tebulo again
Bullets came within inches of gaining breathing space in the 77th minute.
The move began with Billiat producing a brilliant run down the right before sending an inviting ball into the penalty area. The hosts failed to clear the danger, allowing the ball to fall into Tebulo’s path.
The Bullets Reserves graduate unleashed a powerful strike that crashed against the post before Willard fired the rebound off target.
It was the second successive appearance in which Tebulo had been denied by the woodwork after also striking the post on his competitive first-team debut against Chitipa last weekend.
Mologeni delivered another set piece into the Karonga box three minutes later, but the hosts cleared their lines.
Karonga continued pushing forward in search of an equaliser, although Bullets remained organised and disciplined without the ball.
A chance to settle the contest arrived in the 87th minute when Kondowe found a gap between two markers and advanced into the penalty area.
Jamu read the danger and raced off his line to narrow the angle, denying the forward his second goal of the afternoon.
Five additional minutes gave Karonga one final opportunity to rescue a point, but Nyasulu maintained his authority and gathered a long free-kick in the 93rd minute.
Mologeni was booked for a foul on Chitete moments later before Andrew Jovinala replaced Kondowe with the final change of the afternoon.
Bullets saw out the remaining seconds with composure to secure all three points.
The victory gave Nyirenda’s side back-to-back league wins for the first time since victories over Masters FC and Creck Sporting six weeks ago, while a disciplined defensive performance secured a second consecutive clean sheet.
Mologeni was named Player of the Match after creating the winning goal and completing an accomplished performance on the right side of defence.
We moved up one place to third with 26 points from 13 matches, level with Mighty Wanderers and two behind Silver Strikers.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets XI
24 Innocent Nyasulu; 2 Yamikani Mologeni, 4 Blessings Mpokera (C), 26 Emmanuel Kaunga, 31 Prince Chiumia; 17 Yankho Singo, 29 Chawanangwa Gumbo (6 Frank Willard 72’), 19 Wongani Lungu; 20 Maxwell Phodo (52 Kondwani Tebulo 58’), 28 Misheck Billiat; 13 Ephraim Kondowe (21 Andrew Jovinala 90+5’).
Substitutes not used
23 Maclean Mwale, 30 Aaron Chilipa, 12 Madalitso Safuli, 7 Peter Banda, 14 Sean McBrams, 18 Dastan Banda.
Karonga United XI
50 Eddie Jamu; 22 Pilirani Thulu (C), 3 Innocent Chitete, 5 Yusuf Adesola Abdul-Waheed, 6 William Mwalwimba, 10 Casto Kayuni (21 Micheal Mwalilino 67’), 12 Erick Mandanda (7 Alex Benson 67’), 15 Godfry Siwale, 23 Steven Steven (24 Samson Sokanya 76’), 28 Lovemore Ngolombe, 30 Kennedy Mwakabaghe.
Substitutes not used
1 Gracian Kazembe, 8 Chimwemwe Myombe, 25 Raphael Nkhoma, 26 Anthony Mwalilino, 44 Thomson Khunga, 66 Ellias Muywanga.
Match statistics
Goal: Ephraim Kondowe 38’ (Bullets).
Bookings: Maxwell Phodo 35’, Yamikani Mologeni 90+4’ (Bullets).
Player of the Match: Yamikani Mologeni (Bullets).
Match details
Fixture: Karonga United vs FCB Nyasa Big Bullets
Competition: FDH Bank Premiership
Date: 16 August 2026
Venue: Karonga Stadium
Result: Karonga United 0-1 FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
