Blue Eagles beat Nomads to finish FDH Premiership first round on top

Blue Eagles have finished the first round of the FDH Bank Premiership on top of the table after beating Mighty Wanderers 2-1 at Nankhaka Stadium on Saturday.

The victory took the police side to 31 points from 15 matches, one point ahead of second-placed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, who had already completed their first-round campaign.

Mighty Wanderers remain third on 29 points, level with fourth-placed Silver Strikers but ahead on goal difference.

The match was billed as a battle for top spot, with Wanderers needing at least a draw to move to the summit while Eagles required victory to take first position.

The Nomads started brightly and came close twice in the opening four minutes, but Eagles gradually settled and began to create chances.

Fahard Mcheka opened the scoring for the hosts in the 23rd minute after Wanderers goalkeeper Chancy Mtete parried Micium Mhone’s corner, leaving Mcheka with the chance to finish from close range.

Eagles doubled their advantage seven minutes later when Tonic Viyuyi headed home another Mhone delivery.

Wanderers made three changes before half-time, bringing on Rajab Nyirenda, Emmanuel Nyirenda and Mphatso Kamanga, but went into the break trailing 2-0.

The Nomads improved after the break and had chances to reduce the deficit, with Kamanga missing an opportunity in the 63rd minute.

Their pressure finally paid off in the 75th minute when Sama Tangong pulled one back after goalkeeper Precious Masamba parried a long throw-in from Peter Ng’ambi.

The goal gave Wanderers fresh hope as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Eagles held on despite late pressure, including a penalty appeal for an alleged handball.

The match ended 2-1, sending Eagles to the summit after 15 rounds of league action.

Blue Eagles coach Deckleck Msakakuona said finishing the first round at the top was a morale booster for his players.

“We are happy to finish the first round in first position. It is a morale booster,” Msakakuona said.

He described the match as tough but said he had told his players that winning was important.

“It was a tough game, but I told my charges that we must win the game,” he said.

Wanderers caretaker coach Macdonald Mtetemera conceded that things did not go according to their plan.

“Sizinayende (it did not work). The results are not good today. We started the game well but we lost concentration after conceding the first goal,” Mtetemera said.

He said the first goal resulted from a defensive lapse which the team needs to address before the second round.

“The goal came due to a defensive lapse. We need to work on our defence come second round,” he said.

The result leaves Eagles with 10 wins, one draw and four defeats from 15 matches, while Wanderers have eight wins, five draws and two defeats.

The first round has produced a closely packed top four, with Eagles on 31 points, Bullets on 30, and Wanderers and Silver Strikers on 29 each.

Masters FC occupy fifth position on 22 points, followed by Moyale FC and Chitipa United on 21 points each.

Luanar Mitundu FC, Red Lions and Civil Service United are all on 20 points, while Ekhaya FC have 18.

At the other end of the table, GC Dedza Dynamos have 15 points, Karonga United 14, MAfCO FC 13, Kamuzu Barracks 12 and Creck Sporting Club 10.

The second round of the 2026/27 FDH Bank Premiership will officially kick off on October 10, as announced by the Super League of Malawi (SULOM), with the teams heading into the second half of the season separated by relatively narrow margins in several parts of the table.