* Leaders Red Lions thrashed Ngokwe United 8-1 while 3rd-placed Namitete Zitha, went through 7-3 in penalties after drawing 1-1 with University of Lilongwe in regulation time
* Ndirande Stars thrashed Soccer Legends 18-0 while Bangwe All Stars escaped a scare when they were held 2-2 by Ligowe Young Soccer but managed to triumph 4-2 in penalties
By Duncan Mlanjira
Baka City and Jenda United are the only NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) side who have been ousted from the Castel Challenge Cup 2025 after being beaten by Chibavi Real Stars and Lufita respectively 2-0 in the Northern Region qualifiers.
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Baka City, who are second in the on the NDL log table, were beaten by Chibavi Real Stars 2-0 on November 1 while Jenda lost 3-4 to Lufita in post-match penalty shootout after playing out a 0-0 draw in regulation time on Sunday.
Namitete Zitha, who are 3rd on the log table, went through having drawn 1-1 with University of Lilongwe in regulation time but won 7-3 in a fiercely contested penalty shootout.
NDL leaders Red Lions thrashed Ngokwe United 8-1, while 4th-placed Mitundu Baptist saw off Newcastle FC 1-0 — with Bangwe All Stars (5th) escaping a scare when they were held 2-2 by Ligowe Young Soccer in regulation time but managed to triumph 4-2 in penalties.
Chilumba Barracks (9th) are through to the next round having beaten Chizumulu 2-1 while Ndirande Stars thrashed Soccer Legends 18-0.
Ntaja United (8th) beat Changalume Barracks 1-0; Chintheche United, who are in the relegation zone of the 12-member NDL at 10th place, found some solace by beating Young Movers 3-1.
On 11th place, Mchinji Villa went through to the next round of the Castel Challenge 2025 by beating Ergo FC 4-0 in Central Region qualifiers.
Defending champions Mighty Wanderers
Other regional qualifiers results are:
Eastern Region: Chawe Bullets 1-0 Mpulura FC; Msamba Estate 4-2 Zomba Airbase; Ntaja Rangers 8-2 Masters United; Prison United 1-0 Toleza
Northern Region: Embangweni United 3 (1-1) 4 Home Sweepers; Chiponde 2-1 eSwazini; Mbelwa Warriors 6 (2-2) 8 Baula Celtic; Chicago FC 2 (1-1) 4 Raiply United
Central Region: Dwangwa Town Hammers 2-4 FC Shire-Wimbe; Thete FC 0-3 Airborne Rangers; Extreme FC 4-0 Thandizo Orphans; Mponela FC 3-2 Heroes Sporting; Mzamani FC 2-1 Santhe Admarc
Southern Region: Chikuli Hot Bullets 2-5 Nsanje United; Bloomfield 3-2 Liberty FC; Zingwangwa United 2-3 Bereu Giants; Nthunzi 1-2 Chitera; Thunga 2-1 Makata Select.
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The preliminary round of the Castel Challenge Cup 2025 started with the district phase was divided into three phases — district, regional leagues and regional playoffs.
In the district preliminaries, teams competed to determine a champion to qualify for the regional playoffs while regional league teams (Premier and Division One) played in a knockout preliminaries in their respective regions to come up with five teams for the Regional Playoffs.
Thus in the regional playoffs, the district champions and the qualified regional leagues teams joined NBS Bank NDL sides, playing in their respective regions as playoffs to come up with 16 teams that should join 16 TNM Super League teams in the national phase.
The national phase will have three Eastern Region teams, four from the Centre, five from the North and four from the South — joining the 16 elite league teams led by Mighty Wanderers, who are the defending champions having defeated Mzuzu City Hammers 1-0 in last year’s final.
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