Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves will be in the FDH Bank Cup quarter-final showpiece on Sunday as they host Blue Eagles at the Kamuzu Stadium.
There is more on the line between the two sides in this fixture as historical achievements and prize money are up for grabs.
Both teams will head into Sunday’s knockout encounter in good spirits as they are coming from victories in their respective league campaigns.
Young Bullets hammered Mubas FC 8-0 in their Thumbs Up Southern Region Premier Division League meeting, while Blue Eagles registered a narrow 1-0 win away at Mighty Waka-Waka Tigers.
To reach this stage of the FDH Bank Cup competition, the young Maule stunned two elite league sides, Mighty Tigers in the round-of-32 and Red Lions in the round-of-16. Their Sunday opponents booked themselves a ticket in the quarter-finals after edging out Ekwendeni Hammers.
Bullets Reserves coach Enos Chatama told club media ahead of the big tie: “It will be a tough match. It will go down to the wire. It won’t be easy for either side. The team which prepares well will carry the day on Sunday.”
In the opposing side, Blue Eagles’ assistant coach, speaking in a pre-match interview on Thursday, said: “This game is important. As you know, when money is at stake, everything is important.”
In history, this is the second time Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves are facing Blue Eagles. Back in 2018, the two sides met in the Last 16 of the FISD Challenge Cup, and after failing to cancel out each other during normal time after Chatama’s side gave away a 1-0 lead in stoppage time, the tie was decided on post-match penalty shootouts of which the Eagles won 6-7.
There have been no injury reports from either side and on Sunday it is expected to be a full battle between the two sides with full arsenals at their disposal.
The winner between the two will meet the winners between lower league sides Changalume Barracks and Extreme FC, who will meet on the same Sunday afternoon at Balaka Stadium.
