FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women have cemented their lead at the top of the Goshen FAM Women’s Football League following a 6-1 thumping of Ndirande Soccer Giants on Saturday morning at Kamuzu Stadium.
Maggie Chombo’s ladies came from 1-0 down in a fixture that was rescheduled following an abandonment due to a waterlogged pitch at Mpira Stadium last month.
What happened
The tie resumed 20 minutes past its rescheduled kickoff time. The hosts, faced an immediate challenge, trailing 1-0 to Carol Khoviwa’s earlier strike.
Maule ladies refused to back down. Chimwemwe Sapangwa’s free kick in the 22nd minute sparked a push for an equaliser, but Matamando Makawa’s header sailed wide.
Undeterred, our side dominated possession, only to be thwarted by offside calls.
Fauzah Mohammed’s unfortunate injury led to Rachel Matemba’s introduction in the 33rd minute.
Makawa made it 1-1, following a magnificent pass from Tendai Sani, who turned out to be the provider to finish the first period at 1-1.
The intensity escalated in the second half. Sani narrowly missed a golden opportunity in the 48th minute after Makawa’s pinpoint pass.
Makawa’s potential second goal was foiled by the offside flag in the 50th minute.
Chombo made a tactical switch and introduced Vanessa Issa, replacing Rachel Matemba.
This move ignited a scoring frenzy. Sani’s swift combination with Issa yielded a stunning goal in the 61st minute.
Moments later, Sani’s brilliance continued with a third goal courtesy of Zainab Kapanda’s visionary pass.
Issa’s strategic introduction in the 55th minute proved to be pivotal, as she contributed to the turnaround of the tie. The wing forward was on target in the 72nd minute after receiving a brilliant pass from Sani.
Moments later, Sani, the league’s leading scorer, grabbed a third assist after setting up Issa for what was her second goal in the tie.
It was a hat trick for Sani after she added another goal in the 77th minute, this time assisted by Kapanda.
Sarah Mulimbika for Soccer Giants, squandered a late penalty opportunity when her effort hit the side netting. The final whistle confirmed Bullets Women’s resounding 6-1 triumph.
What it means
Following this win over Ndirande, Bullets Women have extended their lead at the summit of the Goshen-FAM Southern Region Women’s League with 37 points from 13 games.
Zainab Kapanda’ return
The 22-year-old Bullets Women midfielder played a full competitive match for the first time since 2022.
Kapanda had been on the sidelines due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury and the club had to send her to Zimbabwe for a knee surgery in February this year.
Chombo post-Ndirande
“Today was a testament to our spirit, passion and resilience. We rose to the challenge, and our bond grew stronger. Every player contributed to this triumph. Our tactical adjustments unleashed our attacking potential. This victory fuels our title quest; we’ll stay focused, one game at a time. [I believe] our momentum will propel us to greatness.”
