FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women’s late fightback fell short as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Mighty Wanderers Queens in the SRWFA Mayor’s Bonanza third-place play-off at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Atuweni Njirima put Wanderers Queens ahead on the stroke of half-time before Chisale doubled their advantage in the closing stages, leaving Bullets facing a two-goal deficit with little time remaining.
Mary Chavinda pulled one back deep in stoppage time, but it proved only a consolation as Wanderers Queens held on to secure third place and leave Bullets Women fourth.
Bullets Make The Brighter Start
Bullets made a lively start and created the first clear opportunity inside two minutes.
Mary Chavinda drove forward before unleashing a shot, but Wanderers Queens goalkeeper Esther Mauludi was alert to make the save.
Wanderers responded a minute later with a shot on target, although Bridget Malewa comfortably gathered the effort.
Bullets then won their first corner of the afternoon in the fourth minute, with Chavinda delivering into the box. Bridget Buliat rose to meet the cross, but her header was saved by Mauludi.
Another Chavinda corner followed two minutes later, but the resulting header went wide and Wanderers were awarded a goal-kick.
The Queens began to threaten as the half progressed, with Atuweni Njirima sending a dangerous cross into the Bullets area in the 10th minute, although there was no teammate available to meet it.
Wanderers won a corner four minutes later after Chikondi Benjamin’s free-kick caused problems. Faluna Umali took the resulting set-piece, but her delivery sailed wide.
Bullets were forced into their first change in the 25th minute when Shalon Dzimau replaced Florida Safulodi.
Wanderers also made a change at the same time, with Samada Majiwa replacing the injured Wezzie Mhango.
Three minutes later, the Queens thought they had taken the lead when Tawina Kamanga headed home from a free-kick, but the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside.
Bullets responded at the other end in the 30th minute when Dzimau’s free-kick found Carlo Mlezo, whose effort was comfortably saved by Mauludi.
Fauzah Mohammed then sent a cross into the box two minutes later, but the delivery sailed wide as Bullets continued to push forward.
Wanderers threatened again in the 37th minute, but Tadala James was alert to clear the danger.
Bullets came close once more in the 42nd minute when Dzimau played the ball to Bridget Buliat, but Mauludi made another save.
Wanderers won a corner moments later, with Tawina Kamanga delivering into the box. Bernadetta Mkandawire was alert to clear the danger.
Njirima Strikes Before The Break
The Queens finally found the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time.
Faluna Umali delivered a brilliant cross into the box and Atuweni Njirima connected to put Wanderers ahead after Bullets failed to clear their lines.
Half-time: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women 0-1 Mighty Wanderers Queens.
Bullets Push For An Equaliser
Bullets resumed the second half with purpose and won a corner in the 47th minute.
Chavinda delivered into the box and Shalon Dzimau connected with her right foot, but her effort went wide of the target.
Two minutes later, Wanderers were awarded a penalty after Bernadetta Mkandawire brought down an opposition player inside the box and was shown a yellow card.
Shira Mangani stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Malewa produced a brilliant save to deny her and keep Bullets within one goal.
Bullets made another change in the 51st minute, with Effa Msukwa replacing Bridget Buliat.
Chavinda delivered another corner three minutes later, but her set-piece sailed wide of the target.
Wanderers gradually began to take control of the contest, enjoying more possession and forcing Bullets deeper into their own half.
The Queens threatened again in the 64th minute when Tawina Kamanga beat Shalon Dzimau before sending a dangerous cross into the box, but Msukwa was alert to clear the danger.
Three minutes later, Wanderers forced another save from Malewa before Mkandawire made another important clearance.
The Queens were now dictating the play, while Bullets struggled to establish a foothold in the second half.
Bullets made their third change in the 70th minute, with Melicy Baison replacing Fauzah Mohammed.
Wanderers came close to doubling their advantage in the 73rd minute when Njirima went one-on-one with Malewa, but her effort sailed wide.
Wanderers Strike Late
The Queens continued to press in the closing stages, while Bullets searched for an opening to bring themselves level.
Bullets created an opportunity six minutes from time when Swemma John sent a cross into the box, but Mauludi was alert to make the save.
Wanderers then delivered what appeared to be the decisive blow in the 90th minute.
Chisale beat her marker before rounding the goalkeeper to double Wanderers Queens’ lead and make it 2-0.
Deep in stoppage time, Chavinda pulled one back to make it 2-1.
The goal gave Bullets renewed hope, but there was no time for another attack as the referee brought the contest to an end.
Full-time: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women 1-2 Mighty Wanderers Queens.
Mbeta: Bonanza Highlights Areas For Improvement
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women assistant coach Philemon Mbeta said the defeat provided valuable lessons for the team, particularly in front of goal and defensively.
“It was a good game, although we have lost 2-1 to Wanderers. We conceded a goal in the first half, and in the second half we started very well, but we conceded another easy goal which let us down.
“At the end, we managed to pull one goal back, but if we had avoided conceding the second goal, maybe we could have forced a draw or even gone on to win the game.
“This Bonanza has helped us to see that we still have a lot of work to do. We have brought in some new and young players, and these games are important for them to gain experience, confidence and match fitness so that when the league starts, they will be in good shape and ready to compete.
“We also need to work more on our attacking play and our forwards. We are creating chances, but we are not converting them, and that is something we need to improve. We have to become more clinical in front of goal and make sure we take our chances when they come.
“Defensively, we also need to improve our concentration because some of the goals we conceded could have been avoided. These are the lessons we are taking from this game, and we will continue working on them in training.
“The Bonanza is giving us a good opportunity to assess the players, identify our weaknesses and make the necessary improvements before the league starts.”
The defeat leaves Bullets Women fourth in the SRWFL, while Wanderers Queens claim third place after a hard-fought contest.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women XI
16 Bridget Malewa; 22 Bernadetta Mkandawire, 19 Florida Safulodi (15 Shalon Dzimau 25’), 23 Swemma John, 6 Chimwemwe Sapangwa; 8 Carlo Mlezo, 20 Fauzah Mohammed (9 Melicy Baison 70’), 10 Mary Chavinda, 21 Linda Nyangu, 18 Tadala James; 29 Bridget Buliat (2 Effa Msukwa 51’).
Substitutes Not Used
1 Spiwe Mkwalura, 13 Ireen Mbesa, 4 Uemu Daiti, 25 Alinafe Kalipinde, 7 Wongani Kumwenda, 27 Leah Mussa, 17 Asiyatu George, 12 Doris Gondwe.
Mighty Wanderers Queens XI
26 Esther Mauludi; 19 Wezzie Mhango (18 Samada Majiwa 25’), 14 Shira Mangani, 7 Neema Banda, 28 Chikondi Benjamin; 9 Zyton Mtambalika, 6 Estery January, 10 Tawina Kamanga, 27 Atuweni Njirima, 8 Funny Moyo, 15 Faluna Umali.
Substitutes Not Used
13 Grolia Kafunda, 11 Gracy Chisale, 17 Grace Nkhanga, 25 Tricia Bands, 20 Patience Nyere, 29 Shodhina Kaunda, 28 Chifundo Kabudula, 32 Angela Zimbiri.
Match Details
Fixture: Mighty Wanderers Queens vs FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women
Competition: SRWFL Mayor’s Bonanza – Third-Place Play-Off
Date: Sunday, 6 September 2026
Venue: Kamuzu Stadium
Result: Mighty Wanderers Queens 2-1 FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women
