History beckons for FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mafco as they face off in the Airtel Top 8 Cup final at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre this afternoon.
Bullets are heading into the match looking for an unprecedented quadruple, having won the TNM Super League, FDH Bank Cup and Airtel Top 8 titles in an extended season.
On the part of Mafco, they will be looking to end their 10-year trophy drought.
The Salima-based soldiers last won a trophy in 2013, when they won the Presidential Cup following 10 -9 post-match victory over Silver Strikers at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
At stake is K17 million for champions of the competitions, which has been dubbed ‘Zamadolo’.
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This is the second meeting between Bullets and Mafco in a cup final this season.
The two Super League sides met in the FDH Bank Cup final in which The People’s Team triumphed 3-0 at Bingu National Stadium.
This afternoon’s meeting will, in the last decade, be the sixth one in cup matches between the two sides.
Their first meeting was in the Standard Bank Cup quarter-final tie in which Mafco triumphed 3-1 on post-match penalties after a 1-1 draw.
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They met four years later in the semi-final of the Carlsberg Cup, in which Bullets won 5-4 on post-match penalties.
In 2016, they also met in the quarter-final of the Carlsberg Cup but Mafco won 1-0 at Civo Stadium.
Bullets and Mafco also met in the 2021 quarterfinals of the Airtel Top 8.
Then, Bullets triumphed 5-3 on aggregate after beating their opponents 3-1 in the first leg before registering a 2-1 win in the return leg at Chitowe Stadium.
Fast-forward to this afternoon. The two teams renew their rivalry on two contrasting missions.
Bullets will be hoping to win the Airtel Top 8 for the second time since its inception in 2017. They won it in 2021 after beating Silver 5-3 on post-match penalties.
As for Mafco, they must be salivating at the prospect of laying their hands on the trophy.
This is because they have never won it.
Again, this is their first final appearance in the competition.
Since its inception, only Silver have won the cup twice; that is, in 2017 and 2019.
Blue Eagles and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers won it in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
Interestingly, no team has defended the Airtel Top 8 cup.
Bullets Coach Kalisto Pasuwa said the fixture against Mafco is always tough.
“We are mainly worried about complacency in our camp. The players think they have already won it, which is dangerous in football,” Pasuwa said.
Precious Sambani, Alick Lungu, Mike Mkwate, Rabson Chienda and Kesten Simbi are out due to injuries.
Blessings Mpokera is suspended for the final tie.
Mafco Coach Pritchard Mwansa said their loss in the FDH Bank Cup was water under the bridge.
“This is a different match altogether. We will make life difficult for them,” Mwansa said.
Mafco have all the players available for selection.
