Civil Service United celebrating their winning goal
* Following 0-2 loss by FOMO FC against Civil Service United but FOMO have two games in hand against Bangwe
* And 1-0 win by Bangwe All Stars against Moyale Barracks FC, who have now occupied 13th place
* Also in relegation zone are Chifipa United (15th) who got beaten 1-3 by Mzuzu City Hammers at Karonga Stadium
By Duncan Mlanjira
FOMO FC have been pushed in red relegation zone of the TNM Super League 2024, after being beaten 2-1 by visiting Civil Service United yesterday at Mulanje Park following a 1-0 win by Bangwe All Stars against Moyale Barracks FC.
This is the first time for Bangwe All Stars to move above the relegation zone since the start of the season but they are still threatened as FOMO FC, have two games in hand and their next assignment is against already relegated fellow debutantes, Baka City in midweek fixture, Wednesday, November 6.
FOMO FC have 22 points, two behind Bangwe All Stars, and if they win all their remaining matches, they will amass 40 points while Bangwe All Stars would garner 36 points from their remaining 4 games.
FOMO were first to score through Chitsanzo Saidi in the 21st minute but Civil Service United equalised five minutes later through Chifundo Ngapemba (26′) to take the game at 1-1 at half time.
Five minutes to regulation time, substitute Christopher Gototo scored the winner for the Lilongwe-based Civil Service United, who have safely moved to 5th in the fight for the top eight to earn a place in the Airtel Top 8 2025.
Bangwe All Stars lone goal against Moyale was through Kondwani Chilembwe in the 76th while at Karonga Stadium, Mzuzu City Hammers piled more more misery on the relegated Chitipa United through goals from Chinonso Uzoagha Promise from the penalty spot in the 27th minute, Chimwemwe Chunga (44′) and Gregory Mwase (87’).
Chitipa United’s consolation goal was from Ramadhan Ntafu from the penalty spot in the 52nd and they have 8 points from 25 games, which if they win all, will amass 23 points.
Relegated Baka City
Silver Strikers lead the TNM Super League 2024 with 57 points, seven ahead of second-placed Mighty Wanderers (47), who if they win their remaining six assignments, will amass 65 while the Bankers will end with 72 from the same number of remaining games.
Defending champions, Nyasa Big Bullets are 4th with 41 points, who would garner 59 if they win the rest of their remaining six assignments as they would opt to end third as third-placed Mzuzu City Hammers would amass 52 points if they win their remaining three games.
So the fight for next year’s Top 8 is being fought for by Silver Strikers (1st); Mighty Wanderers (2nd); Mzuzu City Hammers (3rd); Nyasa Big Bullets (4th); Civil Service United (5th); Karonga United (6th); Moyale (7th); Creck Sporting (8th); Kamuzu Barracks (9th); and MAFCO (10th).
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In the race for the Golden Boot are: Mighty Wanderers’ Isaac Kaliati (14 goals from 22 games); Creck Sporting’s George Chiomba (12 from 23); Kamuzu Barracks’ Zeliat Nkhoma (12 from 21); Karonga United’s Blessings Mwalilino (11 from 24); Mzuzu City Hammers’ Isaac Msiska (10 from 26); Chitipa United’s Ramadhan Ntafu (9 from 21) and Nyasa Big Bullets’ Nigerian striker, Babatunde Adepoju (8 from 20).
Those with more goal assists are: Mighty Wanderers’ Gaddie Chirwa (9 from 24) & Isaac Kaliati (8 from 22); Silver Strikers’ McDonald Lameck (8 from 23); Creck Sporting’s George Chaomba (6 from 23); Mighty Wanderers’ Stanley Sanudi (6 from 21); Silver Strikers’ Uchizi Vunga (6 from 20); Creck Sporting’s Hadji Wali (5 from 22) and Civil Service United’s Muhamad Biason (5 from 19)
Fighting for the Golden Glove are: Silver Strikers’ George Chikooka (15 clean sheets); Mighty Tigers’ Lucky Tizola (12); Karonga United’s Maclean Mwale (9); Dedza Dynamos’ Donnex Mwakasinga (8); MAFCO’s Christopher Mikuwa (7) and Mighty Wanderers’ William Thole (7).
Meanwhile, defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets will meet Silver Strikers in the Airtel Top 8 2024 final — a repeat of 2021 edition’s final in which the Bullets beat the Bankers 5-3 on post-match penalties.
The People’s Team beat Kamuzu Barracks 2-0 yesterday to book their place in the final to be played on Saturday, November 9 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, while Silver Strikers triumphed 1-0 in a hard fought against Mighty Wanderers on Saturday.
Match between Nyasa Big Bullets and Kamuzu Barracks yesterday
This will be Silver Strikers’ fourth Airtel Top 8 final since its inception in 2017 and last season, they were booted out in the semifinals against MAFCO.
Mighty Wanderers v Silver Strikers
Bullets and Silver Strikers are the only sides that have won the Airtel Top 8 twice each — Silver in inaugural championship in 2017 when they beat Wanderers 10-9 on post-match penalties after goal-less in regulation time.
They won it again after beating Karonga United 1-0 in 2019 while Nyasa Big Bullets won their first Airtel Top 8 title in 2021 following 5-3 win over Silver Strikers on post-match penalties before they triumphed 2-1 over MAFCO last year while Blue Eagles won it in 2018.