Ndirande Stars and Shire Wimbe have booked spots in the 2025 Castel Challenge Cup semi-finals following victories in their respective matches on Sunday. Stars stunned newly promoted TNM Super League side Red Lions 5-3 on postmatch penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time at Balaka Stadium.
Calisto Kaliwo scored for Red Lions in the 28th minute before Kondwani Kuchenza equalised for Stars. Stars team manager Kuruwa Ngwira was delighted with the win. “We prepared well for the match.
The players also showed great character,” he said. Red Lions coach Malumbo Mkandawire conceded defeat.
“It is part of the game. We move on,” Mkandawire said. In another match, Wimbe thrashed Chintheche United 4-0 at Rumphi Stadium. Tathedwa Willard scored a brace while Stanley Mponela and Precious Mandiwa scored one goal each. Meanwhile, holders Mighty Wanderers will start their Castel Challenge Cup title defence against Extreme FC in Mchinji next week.
Inaugural winners FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will face relegated Songwe Border United in the round of 32, while Silver Strikers will meet NBS Bank National Division League side Namitete Zitha.
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The winner between Wanderers and Extreme will face either Creck Sporting Club or Goshen City Dedza Dynamos in the round of 16, while the winner of the tie between Bullets and Songwe will face either Bereu Giants or Chitipa United. In other matches, Blue Eagles will face fellow Super League side Mafco.
Wanderers are defending champions, having beaten Mzuzu City Hammers 1-0 at Bingu National Stadium last year.
