FCB Nyasa Big Bullets are in the Capital City for the Airtel Top 8 Cup quarterfinal second-leg clash against Creck Sporting Club at Nankhaka Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The People’s Team has all to play for in this match, having played to a goalless draw against the opponents in the first leg at Kamuzu Stadium a fortnight ago.
Peter Mponda’s men must win the return tie to proceed to the semifinals where the winner between Silver Strikers and Moyale Barracks await for a place in the final.
This will be the first time we will play at Nankhaka Stadium in over a year. The last time we visited Area 30 was against the venue owners, Blue Eagles, in the TNM Super League in November 2023.
FORM GUIDE
The People’s Team has recorded three wins out of the four matches played in all competitions this new term, defeating Silver Strikers, Creck Sporting, and Songwe Border United in the TNM Super League, and drawing 0-0 against Joseph Kamwendo’s men in the first match of the Airtel Top 8.
In the three games we have won, Bullets have found the back of the net twelve times and conceding one goal, including a massive 7-0 hammering of Songwe last Sunday.
Our Saturday opponents have had a tough start to the new campaign. In the league, Creck have registered 4-1 defeats to Dedza Dynamos as well as Bullets, and drawn 0-0 away to Blue Eagles.
They also played out a 0-0 stalemate against the defending champions in the first leg of the Airtel Top 8 away at Kamuzu Stadium. Kamwendo’s men have only scored two goals in four matches and conceded eight.
Our opponents are playing their debut season in this knockout competition after earning promotion to the elite league at the end of the 2023 season. Last season, in their first season in the league, they finished sixth to qualify for this Airtel Top 8 campaign.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This will be the fifth meeting between Bullets and Creck in a competitive match.
Our maiden meeting in the first round of the 2024 league campaign ended 1-all, but Bullets walked away with three points after recording a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Lilongwe-based side.
In the current campaign, we have met them twice, beating them 4-1 in the league and a goalless draw in the first leg of the Airtel Top 8.
TEAM NEWS
Mponda has travelled with a 24-man squad to Lilongwe for Saturday’s clash, and missing on the list due to injuries are captain Clyde Senaji, defenders Chikumbutso Henderson and Chrispin Mapemba, as well as midfielder Peter Banda.
Dominic Musonda is another member who did not travel with the team. The Zambian left-back resumed training this week following his return from Kitwe where he went to process documents for his work permit in Malawi.
TICKETS
You can still purchase the tickets for Saturday’s encounter online at Kwenda.co, as well as Area 18 Puma Filling Station and Kafoteka Filling Station in Lilongwe.
KICK-OFF TIME AND HOW TO WATCH THE MATCH
Join us for our Airtel Top 8 quarterfinal second leg clash against Creck Sporting Club at Nankhaka Stadium, kicking off at 14:30. Catch every moment live on Mpira TV and MBC TV, or stay updated with real-time match highlights on our Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Godfrey Nkhakananga
Assistant Ref: Pondamali Tembo
Assistant Ref: Samuel Fudzulani
Fourth Official: Alfred Chilinda
Referee Assessor: Christina Chioko
Match Commissioner: Goodall Chinjoka
