Up next for Mighty Wanderers Castel Challenge Cup 2024 are winners between Bangwe All Stars and FOMO FC

* After booking their place in the quarterfinals yesterday alongside MMF Marine; both through post-match penalties

* With the TNM Super League 2024 title almost beyond reach, the Nomads can only concentrate on the Castel Challenge Cup 2024

* A title they badly need after ending trophy-less in the 2023 season, which were all scooped by Nyasa Big Bullets

By Duncan Mlanjira

After sailing past Creck Sporting Club yesterday, through post-match penalties 4-0 after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes, Mighty Wanderers will meet winners of Bangwe All Stars v FOMO FC in the quarterfinals in their quest for a trophy after been knocked out from both the FDH Bank Cup 2024 and the Airtel Top 8 2024.

With the TNM Super League 2024 title almost beyond reach, the Nomads can only concentrate on the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 as Silver Strikers lead in the league with 58 points, five ahead of Mighty Wanderers.

In this competition, the Nomads would only meet their most stumbling block, arch rivals and defending champions, Nyasa Bullets in the final.

For the Round of 16, Nyasa Big Bullets, who beat Changalume Barracks  5-0 last week, date Hilltop and if the defending champions sail through to the quarterfinals, they will meet MMF Marine, who beat Dedza Dynamos 5-4 after a barren 90 minutes yesterday at Dedza Stadium.

Wanderers struggled against Creck Sporting Club, who scored first through Hadji Wali in the 55 before the Nomads equalised 11 minutes later through Clement Nyondo (66′).

Clement Nyondo now ties on 5 goals with Chitipa United’s Andrew Joseph in the race for Castel Challenge Cup 2024 Golden Boot.

Striker Andrew Joseph scored all five goals when Chitipa United thrashed Afanaafana 5-0 in the Round of 32 on November 7 and following behind while Nyondo claimed four when the Nomads annihilated Chipoka United 10-1 in the Round of 32 — heaping their disappointment for being beaten 1-0 by Silver Strikers in the Airtel Top 8 semifinal.

Next with three goals is Civil Service United’s Matthew Hamzah, which he scored when they beat Chimbiya 5-0 in the same round; while two apiece are from five players — Gaddie Chirwa (Mighty Wanderers); Emmanuel Allan (Kamuzu Barracks); Babatunde Adepoju & Ephraim Kondowe (Nyasa Big Bullets); and Chimwemwe Chunga (Mzuzu City Hammers).

The goal assessment is by Maravi Express from the results posted on Football Association of Malawi Facebook page and yet to be verified and confirmed.

Revelation team of the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 are probably Lilongwe-based Panthers FC, who knocked out giants Silver Strikers in their Round of 32 — winning 4-3 in penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw in regulation time at the giants’ own home, Silver Stadium.

This was the second scalp by the second tier Chipiku Central Region Football League side in the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 as they also eliminated TNM Super league side, MAFCO in Round of 64. 

Silver Strikers also failed to win a cup trophy this season after exiting earlier in the FDH Bank Cup 2024 at the hands of Chipiku Central Region League side, Blue Eagles and losing in the final of the Airtel Top 8 2024 against defending champions Nyasa Bullets.