FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will travel to face Songwe Border United in the Castel Challenge Cup Round of 32.
The matchup follows the national draw conducted by the Football Association of Malawi on Tuesday at Mpira Village in Blantyre. This will be the first-ever knockout meeting between the two sides.
The Castel Challenge Cup, sponsored by Castel Malawi, is Malawi’s top knockout football competition. The 2025/2026 edition began in August and will run through February 2026. A total of 559 teams competed in the preliminary rounds.
FAM will announce match dates and venues in due course.
Bullets, who lifted the Castel Challenge Cup during their quadruple-winning 2023 campaign, were unable to defend it last year. They lost 4-1 on penalties to Mzuzu City Hammers after a goalless semi-final at Kamuzu Stadium.
In the Round of 32, the 16 TNM Super League teams are joined by 16 regional qualifiers from across Malawi.
In league meetings this season, Bullets dominated Songwe, scoring 10 goals to Songwe’s 1. They won 7-0 at Kamuzu Stadium and 3-1 away in Karonga.
Songwe were promoted to the TNM Super League last season but struggled. They have already been relegated, earning only six points from 28 out of 30 matches.
The winner between Bullets and Songwe will meet the winner of Red Lions vs Ndirande Stars in the Round of 16.
The top eight Super League teams were seeded and could not face each other. Seeded teams were drawn against the remaining 24 sides, including other Super League teams and regional qualifiers.
Separate draws determined home teams for the Round of 32. The Round of 16 matchups and home teams will follow based on match numbers, with further draws for the quarterfinals and semifinals.
With the Round of 32 opponent confirmed, Bullets now turn their focus to advancing in Malawi’s premier knockout competition and aiming to reclaim the Castel Challenge Cup.
