* The rest are up against top TNM Super League; Ntaja United v Ekhaya FC, Namitete Zitha v Silver Strikers, Chilumba Barracks v Mighty Tigers, Bangwe All Stars v Moyale FC and Chintheche United v Shire Wimbe
* As defending champions Mighty Wanderers have been drawn against former TNM Super League side Extreme FC
By Duncan Mlanjira
The draw for the Round of 32 of the Castel Challenge Cup 2025/2026 was concluded yesterday in which there is only a single an-all NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) encounter between Red Lions and Ndirande Stars.
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The top eight TNM Super League teams as per the log table of Monday, 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.
They were put in one pot and drawn against the other 24 teams — the remaining eight Super League teams and the 16 teams from regional playoffs) in the other pot.
The rest 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 are in the relegation zone position 9, will host fellow relegation-threatened TNM Super League side, Mighty Tigers, who are 15th.
Immediate past participants of the top flight league, Bangwe All Stars — who are 6th in the NBS Bank NDL will host Moyale FC (11th in the Super League) while Chintheche United, who are in the relegation zone position 11 are the only ones facing lower league side, Shire Wimbe.
Defending champions Mighty Wanderers will be hosted by former TNM Super League side Extreme FC as there are three all-TNM Super League encounters — relegated Songwe Border against Nyasa Big Bullets (1st on the table); MAFCO FC (12th) v Blue Eagles (7th) and Creck Sporting Club (10th) v Dedza Dynamos (13th).
Placed 8th in the TNM Super League, Kamuzu Barracks will host lower league side Ntaja Rangers; 5th-placed Karonga United to be hosted by Lufita United and Civil Service United to travel to meet Prison United.
The elite league’s 9th-placed Chitipa United will meet Lower Shire side, Bereu Giants; Kamuzu Barracks (8th) to host Ntaja Rangers while TNM Super League relegation-threatened side, Mzuzu City Hammers will be hosted by Homesweepers.
The Round of 16 to qualify draw for the quarterfinals has been determined based on the Round of 32 match numbers, thus:
* Winners between Songwe Border and Nyasa Big Bullets date Red Lions v Ndirande Stars;
* Kamuzu Barracks/Ntaja Rangers v Chitipa/Bereu Giants;
* Ntaja United/Ekhaya v Chintheche United/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 Nsanje United v Airborne Rangers
* Prison United/Civil Service United v Chilumba Barrack/Mighty Tigers
Red Lions, who have secured qualification into the TNM Super League with three more matches to play, need just one match to lift the inaugural NBS Bank NDL while Ndirande Stars are on 5th position.
Three teams will be relegated from the TNM Super League to the NBS Bank NDL, while four will be demoted to the Eastern, Southern, Central and Northern regional leagues.
The fight to avoid relegation from the elite league is between Mighty Tigers (15th/26pts); Mzuzu City Hammers (14th/27pts); Dedza Dynamos (13th/31pts) and MAFCO (13th/31pts).
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