The Atlas Malawi

Tag: Super League of Malawi

  • Wanderers soar to summit after dominant win over Dedza Dynamos

    Wanderers soar to summit after dominant win over Dedza Dynamos

    Mighty Wanderers have ascended to the top of the TNM Super League, claiming the summit after a commanding 2-0 victory over Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos on Sunday. The highly anticipated match, played at the Wanderers’ home ground, Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, saw the Nomads display a dominant performance, securing their position at the pinnacle of Malawian elite football.

    The win puts Wanderers at 22 points from eight games, one point clear of second-placed Bullets, who have played the same number of matches.

    Former Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos striker, Clement Kamwendo, returned to haunt his old club by opening the scoring for Wanderers. Last year’s Footballer of the Year, Isaac Kaliati, then sealed the victory with a decisive finish.

    Kamwendo, who joined Wanderers on a free transfer last season, expertly converted a cross from Wisdom Mpinganjira, giving the “Lali Luban insects” an early lead. This marked his third goal of the season and sent a clear signal of intent. The early goal presented a daunting challenge for the visitors, who struggled to overcome Wanderers’ commanding possession throughout the match.

    Despite numerous attempts to extend their lead by Gerald Ngwira and Blessings Singini, Wanderers’ efforts were often thwarted by missed chances. Dedza had a rare opportunity before halftime, but Wanderers’ captain Stanley Sanudi and goalkeeper William Thole denied them.

    Dedza Dynamos emerged from the break with renewed intensity, pressing hard for an equalizer. However, their momentum was disrupted when a collision between Kamwendo and Dedza goalkeeper Donnex Mwakasinga led to an immediate call for medical attention.
    In the 56th minute, Isaac Kaliati doubled Wanderers’ lead with a decisive free-kick finish.

    While a comeback initially seemed plausible for Dedza, Kaliati’s continued threats made it an increasingly difficult task. Both teams introduced fresh legs, with Francisco Madinga and Blessings Mwalilino coming on for Wanderers, and Gift Kasambala and Yasin Chida for Dedza. Despite the substitutions, the visitors failed to mount a comeback.
    Isaac Kaliati was deservingly voted Man of the Match for his impactful performance.

    In a post-match interview, Mighty Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, highlighting the importance of the early goal.

    “We did well. We scored early, and that is what we planned, so it worked,” Mpinganjira stated. “We could have scored more goals, but we did not; this happens in football. I am satisfied with the two goals that we scored.”

    Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos coach Alex Ngwira attributed his team’s loss to the “magnitude of the game.”

    He explained, “Mighty Wanderers is another big team in Malawi. Now, these guys, after seeing the supporters, it was like they were lost and their reactions were improper. In the second half, we did not finish well because of the fear and were not bold enough to utilize chances.”
    Dedza Dynamos now sit in 7th place with 13 points.

    In other TNM Super League action, Ekhaya FC secured a 3-1 away victory over Mzuzu City Hammers. This win propelled Ekhaya to third place on the log with 19 points from nine games.

  • Songwe donates 24 points in nine matches, remains at bottom

    Songwe donates 24 points in nine matches, remains at bottom

    Songwe Border United has demonstrated a concerning level of sportsmanship, effectively conceding 24 points to their opponents and remaining with a single point after the first 10 weeks of the 2025 TNM Super League.

    Despite playing nine matches, their record stands at one draw and eight losses, firmly placing them at the bottom of the league table.

    Meanwhile, the Stars of Karonga are making unwanted history as the first team in the league’s history to concede 25 goals by week ten. Their latest setback was a 3-0 away defeat to Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos, further compounding their ongoing struggles this season.

    Gift Magola’s brace and a goal from Tayani Phiri were enough to send the Northerners back home empty-handed. Dedza Dynamos bolstered their midfield with Chifuniro Mpinganjira and Tayani, a formation that signaled their attacking intentions.

    The visitors, conversely, aimed to dominate the wings, with Precious Mwanza starting in place of Lewa Nkosi, paired with Geoffrey Tikha Kadzitche, Thomson Manyowa, and Cosma Mwangonde.

    Initially, both teams struggled to create significant attacking chances, with the ball largely confined to the center circle.

    The deadlock was finally broken in the 33rd minute. After Winston Chimutu of Dedza was solidly tackled and injured, he was replaced by Victor Lungu.

    The resulting free-kick, challenged by Thole, led to a corner. Chikufenji’s “knife-like” cross found Magola, who nodded the ball into the net, securing Dedza’s lead at halftime.
    The second half saw little change in the visitors’ fortunes as they continued to struggle in the landlords’ half.

    In the 53rd minute, Tayani Phiri beautifully struck a shot wide on the mouth of the goal after receiving a precise set-up from Dedza’s Mpinganjira. He clinically slotted it in, extending Dedza’s lead and boosting their attacking momentum.
    In an attempt to turn the tide, Songwe United brought in Ngosi for Mwanza, a substitution that failed to have the desired impact. Festus Chikwezga received a pass from Lewa at the edge of the box and converted it, but Dedza’s goalkeeper Shingrairai Thole made crucial saves, including some time-wasting tactics that earned him a yellow card.

    United’s fate was sealed in the 77th minute when Magola fired home a rebound from Bright Masebo’s tantalizing shot, which United’s goalkeeper had initially saved. Magola was subsequently voted Man of the Match.

    In a post-match interview, a struggling Christopher Nyambose, Songwe’s head coach, attributed his team’s poor performance to a lack of composure and experience.

    “My boys are lacking Super League wisdom. We normally play good football, but to maintain the style and create good chances is a problem. We are lacking experienced players. I really need experienced players in the team to provide exposure to the younger ones. I will wait for the transfer window to get experienced players, but for now, I will be pushing these players I have.”

    Conversely, Dedza head coach Alex Ngwira expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. “This is one of my early games. I am still building the team, but I was excited with the boys’ performance,” he stated.

    Sports analyst Hamdan Nyirongo echoed Nyambose’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for experienced players at Songwe. “Songwe has not changed much. It has the same players that were playing in the lower League. So now they need to mix them with well-experienced players to provide balance,” Nyirongo advised.

    With this result, Songwe Border United remains at the bottom of the league, while Dedza Dynamos moves to seventh position, having amassed 13 points from nine games played so far.

    In other TNM Super League matches, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets hammered Mighty Tigers 3-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. Mighty Wanderers secured a 3-0 away win over Lilongwe-based soldiers Kamuzu Barracks, maintaining their second position and intensifying their competition with league leaders FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.

    Bullets have 21 points from eight games, while Wanderers have 19 points from seven games.

    Elsewhere, Blue Eagles held Silver Strikers to a 1-1 draw at Nankhaka Stadium, and Mzuzu-based Soldiers held Chitipa United to a barren draw at Mzuzu Stadium. Additionally, Karonga United defeated Mzuzu United 2-0.