Babatunde Adepoju etched his name in FDH Bank Cup history on Sunday, becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 14 goals in just 11 appearances.
The Nigerian forward was in unstoppable form at Chitipa Stadium, firing four goals past Chilumba Barracks in a last 32 tie to power FCB Nyasa Big Bullets into the Round of 16.
Baba was simply unplayable—scoring twice in the first half, adding two more after the break, and even providing an assist for Chawanangwa Gumbo to seal a resounding 5-0 victory for The People’s Team.
Dominance in Chitipa
The game kicked off with Chilumba Barracks showing early determination, but it was Bullets who seized control. After a clever exchange with Wongani Lungu, Babatunde opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, slotting the ball into the far-right corner.
Moments later, he turned provider, outmuscling his marker before setting up Chawanangwa Gumbo to make it 2-0.
On 34 minutes, Baba struck again, this time combining with Peter Banda to hammer home Bullets’ 50th goal in FDH Bank Cup history. His brace before halftime put The People’s Team firmly in charge.
Record-Breaking Haul
After the break, there was no stopping him. A Paul Master assist saw Baba complete his hat trick on 56 minutes before he added his fourth goal just two minutes later, set up by Frank Willard.
That strike carried historic weight—it lifted the striker’s FDH Cup tally to 14 goals, making him the outright all-time top scorer since the competition’s launch in 2021.
Despite missing the 2023 edition while in South Africa with Venda Academy, the Nigerian has found the net consistently: five goals in 2022, another five in 2024, and now four in 2025, cementing his name in tournament folklore.
Baba’s Reaction
Speaking after the match, Babatunde could not hide his delight: “It feels good to score four goals and provide an assist today. We needed to show a reaction after last week’s draw against Karonga, and I’m happy I could help the team win convincingly.”
On his record, he added: “It’s a special feeling to be the top scorer in this competition. Every goal that brings victory for the team makes me proud, and I just want to keep going.”
Praise for Teammates
Babatunde also reserved praise for his teammates, hailing the collective performance that dismantled the National Division League side.
“They did exceptionally well. This was something we needed after last week’s result (letting a 3-1 lead slip to draw 3-3 against Karonga United), but that’s gone. Today was about reacting, and we did so convincingly against Chilumba Barracks. We are not under any pressure, and this result boosts our confidence.”
Looking Ahead
The striker believes the win will provide momentum as Bullets return to league action next weekend.
“Like I said, we needed a confidence booster. We are done with this and now we focus on our next league game. It will be a different match entirely, but I believe the players know what is at stake, and we will maintain the momentum,” he stated.
Mponda’s side will remain in Chitipa to face Chitipa United in the TNM Super League at the same venue on Saturday, before traveling to Karonga to take on Songwe Border United ahead of the international break.
