Malawi National Football Team striker Babatunde Adepoju has returned to his parent club, Venda Football Club, following the expiry of his loan deal at FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
Babatunde scored a brace and provided an assist in his final appearance for Bullets as they trounced Mzuzu City Hammers 4-0 in the TNM Super League at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.
Bullets announced on their official Facebook page on Sunday that the lanky forward is set to return to Venda after the loan deal ends Wednesday.
“The forward’s loan spell from South Africa’s Venda Football Club comes to an end on 31 December 2025, marking his last appearance for the People’s Team,” the post reads.
Babatunde signed a three-year contract with Venda at the end of the 2022 football season. He has six months remaining on his current contract with the South African club.
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In an interview on Monday, Babatunde said he was ready for another challenge at Venda.
“I am buzzing with excitement. My expectations are high. I am looking forward to building on my experience from Bullets to contribute to the team’s success in South Africa,” he said.
The Flames forward returned to Bullets in 2024 after struggling at Venda in his debut season in the Motsepe Foundation Division.
Bullets had expressed interest in extending his loan contract until February next year, but Venda refused.
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He has been linked with a move to Zambian club Mchanga Rangers, but Venda officials were not readily available for comment yesterday.
Bullets Chief Executive Officer Albert Chigoga hailed Babatunde for his contribution to the club. “He is a professional player. His attitude is very good,” Chigoga said.
The departure of Babatunde could be a major blow for Bullets, who are currently banned from registering players for three consecutive registration periods.
Fifa imposed the ban on Bullets for failing to pay compensation to Zimbabwean midfielder Ronald Chitiyo for unlawful termination of his contract.
Currently, Bullets have three recognised strikers, namely Hassan Kajoke, Ephraim Kondowe and Maxwell Gasten Phodo.
Sports analyst Parry Chinyama said the departure of Babatunde was a significant loss to Bullets.
“It is a big setback for Bullets as he was a key player. But it can be a blessing in disguise for the team,” he said.
During the 2025 season, Babatunde scored 19 goals in 35 matches across all competitions.
He finished as joint top goalscorer alongside Chikumbutso Salima with 15 goals in 30 matches and four goals in the 2025 FDH Bank Cup.
The forward made a huge impact at Bullets, having scored 97 goals in 122 appearances. This season, Babatunde and Salima were involved in 48 of Bullets’ TNM Super League goals.
