FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women bowed out of the SRWFA Mayor’s Bonanza after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Ekhaya following a goalless semi-final at Mpira Stadium on Sunday.
After Ekhaya made the brighter start, Bullets grew into the contest and carried a greater threat after the interval, creating several openings without finding the breakthrough.
Thoko Mwase produced a series of important saves in her final appearance for Bullets after four years with the club, including a crucial late stop to take the contest to penalties, where Ekhaya prevailed to reach the final.
Ekhaya start on the front foot
Ekhaya threatened inside two minutes when Eliza Myaya found room to shoot, only to see her effort come back off the crossbar before Mwase gathered the rebound.
They continued to enjoy more possession during the opening exchanges and found their way into the Bullets area with greater frequency, although the defence held firm.
Bullets gradually settled into the contest, with Leah Mussa and Tadala James beginning to establish control in midfield and allowing us to enjoy longer spells on the ball.
Ekhaya tried their luck from distance in the 13th minute, but the effort sailed over the crossbar.
Bernadette Mkandawire, again deployed at centre-back, produced another assured display and dealt well with Ekhaya’s attempts to exploit space in behind.
At the other end, Chimwemwe Sapangwa provided an outlet down the right and delivered towards the near post in the 20th minute, but Rosette Mwajuma collected comfortably.
Ekhaya won the first corner of the afternoon a minute later, but Bullets dealt with the delivery before clearing their lines.
The opposition continued to manage the spaces well defensively, limiting Bullets’ opportunities to progress into dangerous areas.
Thandi Bilima appeared to have found a route through in the 32nd minute when she was released one-on-one with Mwase, only for the assistant referee’s flag to halt the move for offside.
Another Ekhaya corner followed moments later and was again defended before their third of the afternoon, in the 45th minute, was also cleared.
Half-time: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women 0-0 Ekhaya.
Bullets take greater control
Neither side made a change at the restart, but Bullets emerged with more purpose and began to spend a greater share of the contest in Ekhaya territory.
Mkandawire released Mary Chavinda with a through ball in the 48th minute, but Mwajuma read the danger and raced from her line to collect before the forward could reach it.
The defender was at the heart of another promising move six minutes later, carrying the ball through the Ekhaya lines before her release took a deflection behind for a corner, although Bullets could not make the set-piece count.
Chavinda then delivered a dangerous free-kick into the area towards Fauzah Mohammed in the 56th minute, but the referee penalised Mohammed for her challenge on Mwajuma.
Bullets came closer three minutes later when Chavinda beat the advancing goalkeeper and found Mohammed. Her ball across the face of goal travelled invitingly towards the far post, but no Bullets player was able to arrive for the finishing touch.
The pressure continued as Bullets increasingly imposed themselves in the opposition half.
Chavinda again got beyond the advancing Mwajuma in the 61st minute, but her touch was too heavy and the ball ran out for a goal-kick.
Lyna James received the first booking of the contest three minutes later before Ekhaya introduced Kettie Munthali and Sina John for Bilima and Evelyn Lloyd.
Chavinda tested Mwajuma from a free-kick in the 69th minute, although the goalkeeper gathered comfortably.
Three minutes later came Bullets’ clearest opening.
Chavinda released Mussa through on goal and the midfielder found herself one-on-one with the advancing goalkeeper, who raced off her line to make the save. The loose ball fell back to Chavinda with Mwajuma still out of position, but her follow-up was blocked as Ekhaya recovered to clear.
Bullets made their first change in the 75th minute, with Bridget Billiat replacing the injured Sapangwa.
Moments later, Ekhaya threatened at the opposite end, but Mwase produced an important save to preserve parity.
Mwase denies Ekhaya late on
Bullets continued searching for the breakthrough and won a corner in the 81st minute. Chavinda delivered towards the near post, causing a scramble inside the Ekhaya area before the defence eventually cleared.
Sina John was booked three minutes later for a challenge on Billiat, presenting Bullets with another opportunity from a set-piece.
Chavinda sent a dangerous delivery towards the far post, but Mwajuma produced an excellent save to keep the contest level.
Ekhaya then created a major opening in the 88th minute when Myaya got the better of Carlo Mlenzo and found herself with only Mwase to beat.
The forward directed a low effort towards the right corner, but Mwase read it superbly, getting down to her left and holding the ball to deny Ekhaya a late breakthrough.
Eunice Moses replaced Alefa Msoka shortly afterwards.
With two minutes added, Bullets had another opening when Billiat was found in space on the left edge of the penalty area, but her effort went off target.
Ekhaya captain Stella Chimkusa required treatment during stoppage time before her side made a late goalkeeping change, with Fortune Bwitubwitu replacing Mwajuma.
There was still no separating the sides when the final whistle sounded, sending the semi-final to penalties.
After 90 minutes: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women 0-0 Ekhaya.
Ekhaya prevail from the spot
Kettie Munthali converted Ekhaya’s opening penalty before Bwitubwitu saved Chavinda’s first attempt for Bullets.
Eneless Fabiano made it two from two for Ekhaya before Mussa responded with Bullets’ first successful kick.
Chimkusa then converted despite Mwase getting a touch to the ball, while Mlenzo kept Bullets in contention from the spot.
Precious Mwalilino scored Ekhaya’s fourth before James converted to make it 4-3.
Moses then missed Ekhaya’s fifth attempt, handing Bullets an opportunity to draw level, but Shalon Dzimau was unable to convert as Ekhaya secured a 4-3 shootout victory.
The defeat brought Bullets’ Mayor’s Bonanza campaign to an end and also marked Mwase’s final appearance in Bullets colours after four years with the club.
The goalkeeper signed off with a composed performance between the posts, with her late one-on-one stop among several important interventions that kept Bullets in the contest until the shootout.
Result: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women 0-0 Ekhaya (Ekhaya won 4-3 on penalties).
Lubani takes positives from defensive display
Assistant coach Charles Lubani acknowledged that Bullets were below their usual level in the opening half but was encouraged by the response after the restart.
He said the half-time message was for the players to remain composed in possession and return to their usual passing game.
“We didn’t do well in the first half, but in the second half we came out well,” said Lubani. “We told the girls to be calm on the ball and play our usual passing game.”
That adjustment allowed Bullets to spend considerably more time in Ekhaya territory, although Lubani admitted the team did not make enough of its work in the final third.
“Defensively, we were good, but offensively we were not good enough,” he said. “That is an area where we need to improve.”
Lubani also highlighted Mwase’s crucial intervention in the 88th minute when Myaya broke through one-on-one.
“That was a life-saving save because if Ekhaya had scored, we were eliminated in 90 minutes,” he said. “That save led us into penalties. It was a very brilliant save.”
Following the shootout defeat, Lubani said the players had been encouraged not to dwell on the outcome. He explained that the competition had provided useful match minutes for the technical team to assess the squad, identify areas requiring improvement and continue preparations for the new season.
He also played down the significance of the shootout itself, stressing that penalties are decided by fine margins and that the greater value for Bullets was in what the technical team had learned across the two matches.
For Lubani, the clearest positive was the team’s defensive work, with Bullets following Friday’s 12-0 quarter-final victory over Chilomoni Ladies with another clean sheet in regulation time.
“I think we’re good defensively, but offensively we’re lacking,” he added. “The positive thing is that we haven’t conceded a goal in two matches, so it’s simple — our defence is very good.”
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women XI
Thoko Mwase; Bernadette Mkandawire, Lyna James, Efa Msukwa, Shalon Dzimau, Tadala James, Fauzah Mohammed, Mary Chavinda, Chimwemwe Sapangwa (Bridget Billiat 75′), Leah Mussa, Carlo Mlenzo.
Substitutes Not Used
Melicy Baison, Bridget Malemia, Ulemu Daiti, Sphiwe Mkwalura, Swemma John, Ireen Mbesa, Asiyatu George, Florida Safilodi, Alinafe Kalipinde.
Match Statistics
Bookings
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women: Lyna James 64′.
Ekhaya: Sina John 84′.
Penalty shootout
Ekhaya converted four of their five penalties, with Kettie Munthali, Eneless Fabiano, Stella Chimkusa and Precious Mwalilino all scoring, while Eunice Moses missed their fifth attempt.
For Bullets, Leah Mussa, Carlo Mlenzo and Lyna James converted, while Mary Chavinda and Shalon Dzimau were unable to score.
Match Details
Fixture: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women vs Ekhaya
Competition: SRWFA Mayor’s Bonanza – Semi-final
Date: 30 August 2026
Venue: Mpira Stadium
Result: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women 0-0 Ekhaya (Ekhaya won 4-3 on penalties)
