There is little room for error as four teams battle to make it into the Airtel Top 8 final at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe this weekend.
It will be an action-packed weekend with novices Ekhaya FC locking horns with Karonga United this afternoon, before 2022 winners Mighty Wanderers and 2018 champions Blue Eagles clash in another semi-final tomorrow.
Ekhaya will be looking to make their maiden appearance in the Airtel Top 8 final on their first attempt.
The Blantyre-based side goes into the battle as a giant killer after knocking out Airtel Top 8 specialists FCB Nyasa Big Bullets following a 7-6 victory on post-match penalties after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.
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The two sides were level after a two-legged tie, drawing 1-1 in a quarterfinal first leg tie at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe before a similar result in the second leg at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.
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Karonga, on the other hand, will be looking to make their second appearance in the cup’s final having lost 1-0 to Silver Strikers in a 2019 decider at BNS.
Additionally, Karonga will be hoping to avoid a second consecutive semi-final loss in the Airtel Top 8 having lost 2-1 to Bullets at the same stage last season.
But this season, Karonga had a fairytale run to the last four when they went through after beating Silver 3-0 in the second leg at Karonga Ground after losing the first leg 2-0 at Silver.
In all fairness, very few book makers predicted that Karonga would march into the semifinals.
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The two teams are lining up against each other for the first time at this stage in their history.
However, statics favour Ekhaya as they are undefeated against Karonga in previous two matches.
Ekhaya defeated the lakeshore side 2-0 and 1-0 in the FDH Bank Premiership last season.
Ekhaya coach Enos Chatama said: “Karonga are always a tough nut to crack but we know them inside and out. So it will be a very tough match. We cannot underrate any opponent. We have seen upsets in cup games, so anything can happen. But we are ready.”
Chatama has assembled a squad capable of upsetting any team with former Karonga star Allen Chihana being the key man alongside Hermas Masinja, James Lumbe and Charles Mafaiti.
Karonga interim coach Christopher Chimkwita believes his charges have what it takes to overcome Ekhaya.
“The boys want to make a name for themselves. Ekhaya is a team with good players and with financial support. But money does not play football,” Chimkwita said.
Wanderers and Eagles have history in the competition, having won it once each since its inception in 2017.
The two are familiar foes having met several times across all competitions.
Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira said his charges are determined to get a positive result.
“We need to work extra hard to get the result. We expect a tough match against Eagles but we are prepared,” Mpinganjira said.
His Eagles counterpart Deklerk Msakakuona said his players know the importance of the match.
“We know what it takes to reach the final and how semifinals games are played. So we are set,” Msakakuona said.
There is a lot at stake for the 2026 edition as the winner will pocket K40 million, up from last year’s K35 million.
For the first time in three years, there will be a new champion with Bullets having been booted out.
Bullets are record winners after lifting the trophy in 2023, 2024 and 2025 having first clinched it in 2021.
Silver won in 2017 and 2019.
