They call it brotherly love, but on Sunday, it felt more like sibling rivalry laced with fire and fury.
Mighty Wanderers summoned all their experience, grit, and tactical discipline to outgun fellow title contenders Ekhaya FC 1-0, thanks to a missile of a strike from Gaddie Chirwa early in the second half.
The result not only silenced a defiant Ekhaya side — it catapulted the Nomads to the very peak of the table.
The match was expected to be explosive, and while the score line suggests minimal drama, the pitch told a different tale. Both sides opened in a strategic and surgical manner.
Blessings Singini, who would later walked away with the Man of the Match award, fired the first warning shot within three minutes, forcing Elias Missi into early action.
Ekhaya responded with brief flashes, including a controversial penalty appeal that saw Hermas Masinja go down under Timothy Silwimba’s challenge.
But referee Joseph Phiri waved it off — much to the home crowd’s relief and the visitors’ rage.
The first half closed in a deadlock, but the air was thick with anticipation — the kind that brews before a thunderstorm.
Chirwa’s Missile, Singini’s Symphon
When the breakthrough came, it felt inevitable. In the 54th minute, Singini, who had danced and dictated in the midfield, spotted Chirwa in space.
The forward unleashed a 30-yard rocket that scorched the air and rattled the net.
Then, Ekhaya scrambled to respond, introducing new faces on the pitch.
Head coach Enos Chatama roped in Vincent Salawira and Clever Chikwata in a double attacking switch.
But it was the Nomads who nearly struck again — Isaac Kaliati forcing Missi into a fingertip save in the 83rd minute.
In the final stages, the Nomads dug in like seasoned soldiers.
Defensive maestro Dalitso Khungwa produced a match-saving tackle in the 88th minute, while Masiya Manda came on to replace Chirwa and lock the back door.
Even as Stanley Billiat’s stoppage-time effort whistled past the post, the writing was on the wall: Wanderers had weathered the Ekhaya storm and claimed the golden three points.
In a post match interview Wanderers Coach Bob Mpinganjira was satisfied with the result.
“We weren’t just playing football — we were playing for pride, for position, and for people. The boys delivered,” said Mpinganjira.
On the other hand Chatama described the loss as a lesson to his charges.
He said; “That wasn’t a loss. That was a lesson. We’ll regroup — the season is far from over.”
The result pushes wanderers at the summit of the League with 29 points salvaged from 11 games.
Player of the match’s elegant performance
Singini didn’t just assist the goal — he orchestrated the game like a maestro.
In an interview with The Atlas, Singini said; “The midfield is my battlefield. Today, I won it.”
CRECK’S NEW DAWN: Chilembwe’s Arrival Seals Historic Win
Creck Sporting Club finally cracked the code after achieving a 1-0 victory over Mzuzu City Hammers — their first ever over the northern outfit.
Kondwani Chilembwe came off the bench and into folklore, firing home in the 61st minute to hand Creck the Victory.
Despite early pressure from the Hammers, Creck’s halftime substitutions — including the decisive Chilembwe — changed the narrative and lifted them to 8th on the table.
The Hammers started brightly and pressed for an early goal, but Creck had the first real chances with Gift Kadawati and Patrick Mupanzi both missing in the initial 15 minutes of the game.
After a goalless half, Creck renewed it’s intentions by making three substitutions.
Head coach Eliah Kananji brought in Fatayo Bayola , Misheck Botoman , and Chilembwe for Jauma Edward, Arnold Kuyamba, and Ademola Ajibola, respectively.
Some minutes later, Chilembwe then made his presence felt.
In an interview after that match Creck head coach Eliya Kananji said the result was the best his charges could produce.
“We were hungry. We’d lost two. We needed this. And Chilembwe? He brought the meal,” He said.
But Mzuzu City Hammers Coach Elias Chirambo attributed the loss to a defensive lapse.
He said in a post match interview; ” It was a balanced game -50 -50 – and both sides wanted to win. But we failed to defend the chance that led to their goal, so we move forward.”
The result lifts Creck to position eight with 17 points from five wins, two draws , and six defeats while Hammers remain in the 15th place with just 8 points from two wins , two draws and seven losses.
BANKERS BALANCE THE BOOKS
At Rumphi Stadium, Silver Strikers looked like a ship lost at sea — until Zebron Kalima threw them a lifeline.
Raphael Phiri’s header gave Moyale the lead, Silver struggled to respond — until Kalima pounced on a loose ball to equalize and steal a point.
Bankers breakthrough finally came when a long throw -in landed in Moyale’s box and Zebron Kalima made no mistake but to take it home.
The result left Silver Strikers coach Peter Mgangira in wonderland.
“It was a bruising battle. We wanted three but fought for one,” said Mgangira.
His Counterpart, Prichard Mwansa said the result wasn’t bad.
“We wanted to win but unfortunately we have gotten a draw. That’s football,” he said.
Silver climbs to third while Moyale, after three straight losses, stay mid-table.
DEDZA, EAGLES LOCKED IN A CAGE: Stalemate with Silver Linings
In Dedza, Premier Bet Dynamos and Blue Eagles played a game of missed chances and missed glory.
The 0-0 draw was frustrating for fans, but vital for both sides’ ambitions.
Dedza started the match brightly, with Otchaya Otim aOkot going close through out the match only to send his effort wide, in most cases.
At some point Eagles also nearly stole the win late in the game when Micium Mhone countlessly found space in the hosts’ yard.
Dedza coach Alex Ngwira told the Atlas that; “We pinned them, but we forgot the bullets.”
But Eagles coach Deklerk Msakakuona was not happy with it.
“One point away from Area 30? We’ll take it,” wondered Msakakuona.
Dedza is currently on the 9th position with 15 points from 13 games, 4 wins, 3 draws, 6 losses.
Meanwhile, Blue Eagles remain at 6 with 17 points from 11 matches.
Relatively, on Saturday Nyasa Big bullets lost to Civil Sporting club 2 -1 to give wanderers a chance of acceralating.
The team now comes second with 27 points emanating from 11 matches.
In an interview Sports commentator Hamdan Nyirongo, said the League’s tight contest sets a tone of more interesting action in future.
” There is tight contest. This is what football fans want. We don’t like a game that we would easily predict the winner,” He said.
