* For Wanderers, this last match of the first round means a lot more — to claim the top spot in order to appease themselves for the poor performance in the CAF Champions League
By Duncan Mlanjira
After their unsuccessful participation of the CAF Champions League preliminary round, Mighty Wanderers went straight to the training ground to prepare for their last match of the 1st round of FDH Bank Premiership against Blue Eagles.
Advertisement
The Nomads were thrashed 7-2 on aggregate win by Tanzanian club Simba SC — 1-0 at home Bingu National Stadium and 6-1 away at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Now they are preparing for Blue Eagles, a match that will determine the leaders of the first round and this last match of the first round means a lot more — to claim the top spot in order to appease themselves for the poor performance in the CAF Champions League.
Ahead of the final 1st round assignments, the top spot of the log table was occupied by Silver Strikers on 29 points, sharing with the Nomads.
But Silver Strikers were thrashed 5-0 by Nyasa Big Bullets, who amassed 30 points to take the leadership — pushing the Bankers from the top spot to 3rd.
On 4th place, Blue Eagles have 28 points and a win will see also them taking the leadership but a draw will see the Nomads tying on 30 points with the Bullets, to be determined on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Masters FC have finished the first round on 5th with 22 points; Moyale 6th with 21 points, sharing with 7th-placed Chitipa United; while LUANAR Mitundu are on the cutting off point for the qualification of the Airtel Top 8.
Ekhaya FC, who are champions of the Airtel Top 8 2025, drew 0-0 with Karonga United at home Mpira Stadium last weekend to stay put on 11th place with 18 points.
The Cowboys will have a lot of work cut out for them in the second round towards being in the top eight and defend their Airtel Top 8 crown they qualified for in their first attempt in the top flight league.
They are 12 points away from the current leaders after finishing the first round with four wins, six draws and five losses.
Red Lions, who returned to the top flight after being crowned champions of the inaugural National Division League (NDL), have ended the first round on 9th place with 20 points — sharing with Civil Service United, who are 10th.
Two places away from the relegation zone are Dedza Dynamos on 12th with 15 points, one ahead of 13th-placed Karonga United.
Thus the relegation zone after the first round is occupied by MAFCO on 14th with 13 points, followed by former elite league champions Kamuzu Barracks on 15th with 12 points, and Creck Sporting at 16th with 10 points.
The 2nd round will definitely be quite a fierce contest on three fronts, a shot at the title between Nyasa Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers, Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles.
For Masters at 5th place, the top they can reach could be 3rd — but could still aim higher in the event they would not drop a single point from 15 matches.
The second part of the contest is to remain or qualify into the top eight while the third front is to escape relegation, whose occupants are narrowly separated by those ahead of them.
Advertisement