FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have retained the Airtel Top 8 title for a third straight year after beating Silver Strikers 4-3 on post-match penalties at a jam-packed Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe Sunday.
The match went straight into the dreaded penalty shootouts after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.
Ephraim Kondowe scored the decisive penalty after Levison Maganizo missed the last penalty kick for Silver.
It was, again, a nightmarish Airtel Top 8 final for Maganizo, who also missed the decisive penalty kick during the 2021 Airtel Top 8 final when Silver lost 5-3 to Bullets.
This means Bullets are the only side to have won the cup four times since its inception in 2017.
- Advertisement -
On top of that, Bullets set a new record as the only side to have lifted it for a third straight year.
For Silver, this is their third loss to Bullets in the Airtel Top 8 decider.
Again, it was Silver’s second consecutive defeat to Bullets in an Airtel Top 8 final.
After yesterday’s match, Bullets players rolled on the red carpet for a third consecutive year.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
The moment captain Lloyd Aaron laid his hands on the glittering Airtel Top 8 trophy, Bullets fans went into wild celebrations.
It was dancing time for the Bullets family.
The atmosphere was, indeed, terrific for the red and white side of town.
On the other hand, Silver fans were crest-fallen as they trooped out of the facility in silence.
Clad in their sky-blue attire, the fans looked dejected.
It was a heartbreaking moment for the Central Bankers, who last won the Airtel Top 8 in 2019, when they defeated Karonga United 1-0 at the same venue.
Andrew Jovinala, Blessings Mpokera and Zambian Dominic Musonda, on his Airtel Top 8 debut, converted their spot kicks but Hassan Kajoke missed.
On the other hand, Zebron Kalima, Maxwell Paipi and Chinsinsi Maonga scored their penalties but Chisomo Mpachika saw his penalty saved by Bullets goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu.
In regulation time, Maxwell Gasten Phodo broke the deadlock in the second half when he headed a Peter Banda corner kick six minutes after recess.
But Stain Davie equalised for Silver midway through the second half with a fine header after Maonga’s assist.
The match lived up to expectations.
Nigerian striker Babatunde Adepoju failed to beat Silver goalkeeper George Chikooka from the penalty spot in the 16th minute.
Babatunde was substituted at the break for Kondowe.
Both teams made some changes.
In a post-match interview, Bullets Coach Peter Mponda said he was delighted to have won the cup.
“Credit should go to the players, who really worked hard. It was, indeed, a difficult match,” Mponda said.
On his part, Peter Mgangira said he was dejected.
“We tried our best but penalties are lotteries. But the players played well,” he said.
For winning the Airtel Top 8, Bullets will pocket K35 million.
Silver midfielder Festus Duwe won the Golden Boot award.
Meanwhile, Bullets’ sponsors, First Capital Bank (FCB), have announced that each member of the Match Day squad will receive K500,000 as reward for the victory.
FCB Head of Marketing and Communications Twikale Chirwa said they wanted to reward and motivate the players.
“We are delighted with this achievement; winning the cup for the third time in a row and fourth overall it is not a mean achievement. As such, each player who was in the team during the final will receive K500,000,” Chirwa said.
