FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will kick off the Airtel Top 8 title defense at home against Creck Sporting Club at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
This marks the first of three encounters with the Lilongwe-based side, as we will host them again on Wednesday for a TNM Super League clash before traveling to Lilongwe later this month for the Airtel Top 8 return leg.
The two teams have never gone head-to-head in a knockout competition before. Creck, now in their second season competing at the top level, secured promotion from the Chipiku Central Region Football League at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Bullets, the most decorated team in the tournament, have lifted the trophy a record three times. Now, Peter Mponda’s men are aiming to become the first team to win the cup three consecutive times. To achieve this, they must first overcome a determined side eager to bounce back from a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Dedza Dynamos in their opening league fixture.
CURRENT FORM
The hosts are riding high after securing a narrow 1-0 TNM Super League win over reigning champions Silver Strikers last Saturday at Bingu National Stadium, where their dominant display throughout the match boosted the team’s morale ahead of Saturday’s fixture.
With an impressive eight-game unbeaten streak in this competition, Mponda will be keen to ensure his squad delivers a strong performance in the first leg ahead of the return match set to take place on 27 April at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
Joseph Kamwendo’s men, on the other hand, are looking for redemption after their heavy loss to Dedza Dynamos. However, facing a team as formidable as Bullets in their own backyard will be a massive challenge for the visitors, especially with another encounter looming just four days later.
Despite the odds, Creck have shown they’re capable of pulling off surprises. Bullets will be wary of their determination, remembering last season’s league encounter where our opponents clawed back from a two-goal deficit to force a thrilling 2-2 draw before conceding late to lose 3-2.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This will be the third meeting between Bullets and Creck, following our two clashes in the 2024 TNM Super League. The first leg ended in a closely contested 1-1 draw at Civo Stadium, where the then champions’ second-half lead was canceled out, resulting in shared points.
In the reverse fixture, Bullets edged a thrilling 3-2 victory. After Creck fought back to level the score at 2-2, The People’s Team sealed the win with a late goal, taking four out of six possible points from our opponents last season.
TEAM NEWS
Chrispin Mapemba and Peter Banda remain sidelined as they recover from injuries, while Dominic Musonda is unavailable due to ongoing work permit formalities. However, the rest of the squad is fit and ready for selection, giving Mponda plenty of options as we gear up for this crucial encounter.
THE COACH’S PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
“We are prepared for the game. We know for sure that it will be a tough game because cup games are always tough and unpredictable. The boys are ready for the show, and we are very optimistic about getting a result on Saturday.
“We don’t have injuries apart from the known ones in Peter Banda and Chrispin Mapemba, but every player is available for selection. We know our opponents have said they know us, and yes, they are right because they are a good team, and good teams sometimes get beaten. The fact that they did not start well doesn’t mean they are a bad team. We are not going to undermine them because we also want to take advantage of playing the first game at home, and the main purpose is to play for a win.
“We know that the team struggled to win at Kamuzu Stadium, but that was then, this is another season. We are coming from a pre-season, and we are ready to bring back the winning mentality whenever we are playing at our base.
“So far, all is good. The defence just kept a clean sheet, and I would proudly say we are right on track. Before the game that we played against Silver Strikers, we played two games in the Sapitwa Bonanza where we beat Creck Sporting Club and Ekhaya FC. This is the same defence that played and won against Silver, and if not for the poor officiating, we could have hammered them with more goals. I believe that the team is okay. The defence is okay, and we are ready to play to the best of our abilities.”
KICK-OFF TIME AND HOW TO WATCH THE MATCH
Our first leg of the 2025 Airtel Top 8 campaign with Creck Sporting Club at the Kamuzu Stadium will kick off at 14h30. You can catch all the action live on Mpira TV and MBC TV. You can also get all the match updates on our Facebook and X (Twitter) channels.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Mercy Kayira from Mzuzu will take charge of the opening match of the 2025 Airtel Top 8 between Bullets and Creck at the Kamuzu Stadium.
Referee: Mercy Kayira
Assistant Ref: Piason Kamanga
Assistant Ref: Ellias Chikoleka
Fourth Official: Honest Maulana
Match Commissioner: Tiziona Banda
TICKETS
You can secure your tickets online at Kwendo.co.
Ticket prices are as follows: for Open Stands, advance tickets are available at K5000, increasing to K6000 on matchday. MBC Stand tickets cost K7000 in advance and K8000 on matchday. Covered Stands tickets are priced at K8000 in advance and K10000 on the day of the match, while VIP section tickets are K15000 in advance and K20000 on matchday.
