FCB Nyasa Big Bullets are through to the quarterfinals of the 2025 FDH Bank Cup following a comfortable 3-0 victory over The Boys FC at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A goal from Blessings Mpokera opened the scoring before Mike Mkwate added a second and Chikumbutso Salima sealed it after the break—all assisted by winger Peter Banda, who delivered a standout performance on his return to the starting lineup in Blantyre.
First Half: Bullets Break Down the Block
After a three-week break, Bullets returned to competitive action looking fresh, but the ThumbsUp Southern Region League side were determined to frustrate the visitors as they deployed a compact high-line defensive block, keeping most players behind the ball and denying Bullets space in the final third.
The early exchanges were cagey, with Bullets struggling to break through. Wongani Lungu came closest in the 17th minute, narrowly missing the far post with a low strike inside the box.
An enforced substitution in the 25th minute saw Frank Willard replace Andrew Jovinala. The skipper slotted in as a right wingback, giving Bullets more width in attack.
The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when Peter Banda played a clever short corner to Salima, who whipped a teasing ball into the danger zone. The hosts scrambled to clear, but only as far as Lungu, who calmly slipped it to Blessings Mpokera. The defender struck first-time, and his low drive—helped by a deflection—nestled into the back of the net to ignite the Bullets crowd.
Just two minutes later, Bullets doubled their lead with a flowing team move. Salima, Paul Master and Lungu combined in midfield before releasing Banda on the right. His low cross was calmly finished by Mkwate to send Maule into halftime with a two-goal cushion.
Second Half: Chilipa Debuts, Salima Seals the Win
Coach Peter Mponda rang the changes at halftime, introducing Yankho Singo, Aaron Chilipa, and Babatunde Adepoju for Master, Mpokera, and Kajoke. It was a notable moment for Chilipa, who was making his senior Bullets debut after rejoining the club on loan from Creck Sporting Club.
Bullets picked up where they left off, dominating the tempo. Babatunde nearly found the net on two occasions—first with a header from a Salima cross that drifted wide and later with a rebound effort that missed the target.
The third goal arrived in the 74th minute through another brilliant sequence. Banda, who was running the show from the right flank, played in Salima with a perfectly timed pass. The winger rounded the goalkeeper and slotted into an empty net to make it 3-0.
The hosts made a couple of substitutions, but Bullets remained in full control. Chilipa looked lively on the left, while Mkwate and Lungu both had late attempts that failed to hit the target.
Babatunde could have added a fourth in stoppage time but was denied by the goalkeeper before firing wide on the rebound.
Nyasulu, who played the full 90 minutes, kept a clean sheet as The People’s Team comfortably progressed to the next round.
What It Means
The win sees Bullets safely into the FDH Bank Cup quarterfinals as they continue their push to reclaim the title they last won in 2023.
The performance also provided a strong platform for the team to build momentum after the international and election break, with multiple players impressing and Banda providing two assists.
What’s Next
The People’s Team will return to TNM Super League action on Saturday, 27 September, when we host Dedza Dynamos at Kamuzu Stadium in a rescheduled fixture. That game will mark our first league appearance since the back-to-back wins away in the Northern Region.
