* After beating fellow NBS Bank NDL side Red Lions 5-3 in post-match penalties of the Round of 32 yesterday at Balaka Stadium
* One other NBS Bank NDL side Chintheche United were ousted by lower League side, Shire Wimbe at 4-0
* Airborne Rangers qualified by beating Nsanje United on Saturday to book a date with winners between MAFCO and Blue Eagles
By Duncan Mlanjira
Ndirande Stars eliminated fellow NBS Bank National League (NDL) side, Red Lions from the Castel Challenge Cup 2025 to book a place in the Round of 16, in which they will face winners between Songwe Border and Nyasa Big Bullets.
Advertisement
Ndirande Stars won 5-3 in post-match penalties after playing out 1-1 draw in regulation time of the Round of 32 match yesterday at Balaka Stadium.
Red Lions — who qualified for the TNM Super League 2026 after clinching the inaugural NBS Bank NDL title — scored first through Callisto Kaliwo in the 28th minute to lead until the 77th when Kondwani Kucheza equalised to force the match into the post-match penalties.
Chintheche United, who are fighting against relegation in the NBS Bank NDL at 9th place, were beaten outright at home Rumphi Stadium yesterday by Shire Wimbe through goals from Mandiwa Precious (26’), Sten Mponela (39’) and a brace from Tathedwa Willard in 69’ and 89’.
They date winners between NBS Bank NDL’s Ntaja United and TNM Super League side, Ekhaya FC in the Round of 16 while Airborne Rangers, who beat Nsanje United 4-3 after post-match penalties on Saturday following a 1-1 draw, booked winners of an all-TNM Super League encounter between MAFCO and Blue Eagles.
Martin Khembo took Nsanje United in the lead in the second minute of the match at new Nsanje Stadium before Airborne Rangers’ Thomas Kashoni equalised in the 54th minute.
Defending champions Mighty Wanderers
The draw for the Round of 32 of the Castel Challenge Cup 2025/2026 only had a single all-NBS Bank NDL encounter between Red Lions and Ndirande Stars in which the top eight TNM Super League teams, as per the log table of December 8, 2025 — Nyasa Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers, Silver Strikers, Civil Service United, Karonga United, Ekhaya FC, Blue Eagles and Kamuzu Barracks — were seeded in the sense that they will not face each other.
The rest of the NBS Bank NDL are up against top TNM Super League with Ntaja United, who are 8th in the NBS Bank NDL hosting Ekhaya FC (6th in the TNM Super League) while Namitete Zitha (4th in NDL) will host Silver Strikers (3rd).
Chilumba Barracks, who have been relegated from the NBS Bank NDL will host fellow relegated side from TNM Super League side, Mighty Tigers.
Immediate past participants of the top flight league, Bangwe All Stars — who are 7th in the NBS Bank NDL, will host Moyale FC while defending champions, Mighty Wanderers will be hosted by former TNM Super League side Extreme FC.
There are three all-TNM Super League encounters — relegated Songwe Border against Nyasa Big Bullets; MAFCO FC v Blue Eagles and Creck Sporting Club v Dedza Dynamos while Kamuzu Barracks will host lower league side Ntaja Rangers; Karonga United away to Lufita United and Civil Service United to travel to meet Prison United.
Chitipa United will meet Lower Shire side, Bereu Giants; Kamuzu Barracksto host Ntaja Rangers while TNM Super League relegated side, Mzuzu City Hammers will be hosted by Homesweepers.
The Round of 16 draw is as follows:
* Winners between Songwe Border and Nyasa Big Bullets v Ndirande Stars;
* Kamuzu Barracks/Ntaja Rangers v Chitipa/Bereu Giants;
* Ntaja United/Ekhaya v Shire Wimbe
* Extreme FC/Mighty Wanderers v Moyale/Bangwe All Stars
* Lufita United/Karonga United v Creck Sporting/Dedza Dynamos
* Namitete Zitha/Silver Strikers v Homesweepers/Mzuzu City Hammers
* MAFCO/Blue Eagles v Airborne Rangers
* Prison United/Civil Service United v Chilumba Barrack/Mighty Tigers
Advertisement