* Advanced from Round of 32 after beating TNM Super League relegated side, Songwe United 3-0 through through Maxwell Phodo’s hat-trick
* Dedza Dynamos qualified after beating fellow TNM Super League side Creck Sporting 3-1 to date another elite league club Karonga United
* Defending champions Mighty Wanderers, who thrashed 3rd-tier league side Extreme FC 6-0, will meet winners between an all-TNM Super League encounter Moyale v Bangwe All Stars on January 20
By Duncan Mlanjira
Nyasa Big Bullets booked a date with NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) club, Ndirande Stars in the Castel Challenge Cup 2025/2026 Round of 16 after beating TNM Super League relegated side, Songwe United 3-0 through a hat-trick from Maxwell Gasten Phodo away at Karonga Stadium yesterday.
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The forward opened the scoring in the first half before adding two more goals after the break to seal the win as Dedza Dynamos also secured an away victory at Aubrey Dimba Stadium when they defeated fellow TNM Super League side, Creck Sporting 3-1 — to book a date with another elite league club Karonga United.
The Round of 32 action continues on Thursday, John Chilembwe Day (January 15), with NBS Bank NDL’s Namitete Zitha hosting TNM Super League 2025 champions, Silver Strikers at Aubrey Dimba Stadium, whose winner will face Mzuzu City Hammers in the next round.
Elite side Moyale Barracks will be at home to host NBS Bank NDL’s Bangwe All Stars at Rumphi Stadium on Tuesday 20 January 20, whose winners to meet defending champions Mighty Wanderers — who thrashed 3rd-tier league side Extreme FC 6-0 to get to the Round of 16.
Chitipa United beat lower league side Bereu Giants from the Lowe Shire 3-0 through goals from Godfrey Kwiyokwa (16’) and a brace from Mally Kasongo (37’, 49’) to book a date with fellow TNM Super League side Kamuzu Barracks.
There are two lower sides who qualified for the Round of 16, Shire Wimbe who beat NBS Bank NDL Chintheche United 4-1 to book a date with elite league club Ekhaya FC — while Airborne Rangers, who saw off Nsanje United 4-3 after post-match penalties following a 1-1 draw, will meet Super League side Blue Eagles.
Civil Service United will meet TNM Super League relegated side, Mighty Tigers who beat NBS Bank NDL relegated side Chilumba Barracks 4-0, on the same weekend Ndirande Stars eliminated fellow NDL side and champions, Red Lions 5-3 in post-match penalties after playing out 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Phodo with his match ball reward
At Karonga Stadium, Songwe United’s technical director, Gift Chilongo admitted his side struggled to match Nyasa Big Bullets’ quality across the pitch, adding that his side accorded too much respect to the TNM Super League 2025 runners-up.
“We didn’t offer much in the game due to a lack of quality in our team despite showing promise in some parts,” Chilongo said of the match in front of a lively and sizeable crowd.
Bullets look to end the 2025/2026 season with silverware under interim coach Gilbert Chirwa, who was pleased with the team’s performance, saying they took full advantage of their opportunities: “We played well today and took our chances when they came — hence I am happy to have made it through to the next round.”
Phodo put the Bullets ahead after just eight minutes, arriving in the six-yard box to turn home a low pass from Ephraim Kondowe — Songwe responded well despite their struggles and twice came close to equalising when the deficit was still 1-0.
Jeffrey Munthali fired narrowly wide in the 14th minute before Richard Cheyo dragged his effort off target from inside the box just before the half-hour mark.
The seasoned Bullets then regained control after the break for Phodo to double the lead on 55 minutes with a well-timed header from a Yamikani Mologeni delivery on the right flank as the forward completed his hat-trick five minutes from time — lashing a low shot into the far corner after another neat exchange involving Chawanangwa Gumbo.
Despite the scoreline, the home side showed flashes of determination and attacking promise, but their lack of cutting edge proved costly against the clinical visitors.—Reporting at Karonga Stadium by Lusekero Mhango, Malawi News Agency (MANA)
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