FCB Nyasa Big Bullets stars Blessings Mpokera, Yankho Singo, Chawanangwa Gumbo, and Chikumbutso Salima were all in action as Malawi battled Namibia to a goalless draw in the 2025 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup at Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in South Africa on Sunday afternoon.
Mpokera and Singo provided solidity in coach Kalisto Pasuwa’s four-man defense, while Gumbo and Salima made their mark in midfield and along the wing for the Flames.
Richard Chimbamba, Andrew Jovinala, Wongani Lungu, and Oscar Petro remained on the bench as unused substitutes.
The Match Report
Malawi signaled their intentions early but were caught offside just 22 seconds into the match. Namibia quickly countered, though Bethuel Muzeu’s effort sailed over the bar.
In the fifth minute, after Mighty Wanderers’ winger Gaddie Chirwa was brought down near the right edge of the box, Salima’s free kick failed to find a teammate. Just two minutes later, captain Wisdom Mpinganjira sought out Salima with a through ball, but the pass was too strong for the Bullets winger to control.
By the 12th minute, Mpinganjira and his Wanderers teammate Promise Kamwendo connected inside the area, but Namibia’s Kennedy Eib intervened before Kamwendo could shoot. Malawi forced a corner but failed to capitalize, with Zambian referee Hillary Hambaba ultimately awarding Namibia a free kick for a foul inside the penalty area.
Salima thought he had opened the scoring in the 14th minute, only to see his goal ruled out for offside. The Flames maintained their attacking pressure, earning another corner shortly thereafter, but Salima’s cross was cleared convincingly by Namibia’s defense.
The pressure from Malawi continued, resulting in back-to-back corners three minutes later, yet none of Salima’s deliveries were converted.
In the 29th minute, Kamwendo couldn’t latch onto Mpinganjira’s precise ball across the six-yard box, squandering another promising attack.
Malawi’s clearest opportunity came at the 30-minute mark when Salima met a cross at close range, only for the Namibian goalkeeper to produce a remarkable save.
Namibia earned their first corner in the 38th minute but failed to threaten. Moments later, the Brave Warriors fired a fierce shot that looked destined for goal before Silver Strikers George Chikooka pulled off a spectacular save to keep Malawi level.
As halftime approached, Namibia saw more possession, but Malawi’s defense remained resolute. Despite four minutes of added time at the end of the first half, the Flames remained disciplined at the back to avoid conceding.
Malawi carved out one last attack, but Gumbo’s overhit pass was out of Salima’s control and the Bullets players failed keep possession during the move, giving away a goal kick as a result.
The referee ended the half with the score at 0-0; each side registered a pair of attempts and  on target it was two from Malawi, one from Namibia.
Second Half
Returning from the break, Malawi showed intent right away with a golden chance in the 46th minute. Singo fired a volley from outside the box that required a sharp save from Namibia’s keeper after the initial clearance fell to the Flames’ number 8.
Namibia responded in the 52nd minute, with Wise Lifasi’s acrobatic bicycle kick going off Chikooka’s left post.
Four minutes later, Lifasi threatened again, but this time, Mighty Wanderers left-back Emmanuel Nyirenda made an excellent block, conceding a corner. Malawi dealt with the set-piece, and after Singo gave away a free kick outside the area, Chikooka calmly collected the resulting delivery.
Salima won Malawi’s first corner of the second period at the other end, but Namibia cleared their lines. The ball dropped to Singo, whose shot soared over the bar.
In the 77th minute, Mpinganjira sent in a free kick that Namibian captain Vetunuavi Hambira headed out for a corner before Mpokera could react. From the ensuing corner, Gumbo tried his luck but missed the target.
Malawi continued to press as the game headed into the final stages. In the 82nd minute, Mpinganjira’s clever back pass set up Gumbo, but the Brave Warriors snuffed out the danger with a courageous clearance.
Kamwendo almost broke the deadlock late on, his near-post shot in the 88th minute narrowly missing the target.
The Flames pushed for a dramatic winner in the dying moments. Salima appeared to be brought down in the box by Namibia’s goalkeeper in the 90th minute, but after a VAR check, no penalty was given. The final whistle blew with both teams sharing the points following a goalless stalemate.
Mpingajira, wearing the armband in the absence of captain Maxwell Paipi due to an injury he picked up against Lesotho on Thursday, was named Player of the Match.
With two group matches played, Malawi find themselves at the foot of Group B with just one point. Angola top the standings with four points, followed by Lesotho in second place with three, having edged out the Flames 1-0 but suffering a 4-0 defeat to the Palancas Negras earlier on Sunday. Namibia, who drew 1-1 with Angola in their first match, sit in third with two points.
