Airtel Top 8 holders FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will host Civil Service United in the first leg of this year’s competition at Kamuzu Stadium on September 14.
The two sides also met at the same stage during the 2023 Airtel Top 8 but Bullets triumphed 3-2 on an aggregate. Bullets beat Civil 2-0 at Civo Stadium but lost 2-1 at Kamuzu Stadium.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) announced the dates and venues for the quarterfinals Wednesday.
Civil Coach Abasi Makawa has vowed to end Bullets dominance.
“Enough is enough. We will come up with a special plan for Bullets,’’ Makawa said.
Bullets Chief Executive Officer Albert Chigoga said Civil are tough customers.
“We expect a very tough match against Civil. They always give us problems,” Chigoga said.
2022 winners Mighty Mukuru Wanderers will face Bangwe All Stars at the same venue on September 15 whereas last year’s surprise package in the TNM Super League Chitipa United will face Kamuzu Barracks at Karonga Stadium.
According to Fam, the quarterfinals first leg phase will wind up on Wednesday September 18, with 2017 and 2019 winners Silver Strikers hosting Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos.
The quarterfinals second leg will kick off with a fixture between Wanderers and Bangwe at Mpira Stadium on September 28 whereas Civil will host Bullets at Civo the following day.
The winners between Bullets and Civil will face either Chitipa or KB in the semi-finals slated for October 6. In another semi-final, the winners between Wanderers and Bangwe will face the winners between Silver and Dedza.
The final is scheduled for November 3.
This year’s Airtel Top 8 is sponsored to the tune of K180 million. The champions will pocket K30 million from K17 million last year whereas the runners-up will get K10 million.
The eight participating teams will each get K2.5 million. Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot winner will each pocket K1.5 million. Player-of-the-match will get K100,000 in each game.
