Blue Eagles handed Nyasa Big Bullets the TNM Super League title after beating contenders Mighty Wanderers 3-1 yesterday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The People’s Team lead the table with 59 points going into their last match against Karonga United and both second-placed Silver Strikers (55 points) and the Nomads (54 points) cannot overtake them even if they win their last matches as well.
Bullets have to thank their 3-0 victory over Kamuzu Barracks in Lilongwe on Saturday while Silver bowed out of the title race after losing 2-0 to Moyale Barracks in Mzuzu the same day.
The Saturday results meant the battle for the championship was now a two-horse race between the Blantyre rivals Bullets and Wanderers since the Nomads could have finished at 60 points if they had beaten Blue Eagles.
But the Nomads were completely outclassed by the Malawi Police Service outfit, who had one mission—to survive relegation.
The Area 30 outfit kicked off the match while on 13th position with 29 points just like 14th-placed Savenda Chitipa United and needed to win to avoid being overtaken.
With Wanderers coming from two straight wins over rivals Bullets and Ekwendeni Hammers, many already wrote Blue Eagles obituary.
But the Nomads failed to rise to the occasion and instead, it was the visitors who were on top of their game.
Eagles midfielder Gabriel Chirwa orchestrated the victory, scoring the opener in the 12th minute.
But Wanderers striker Vincent Nyangulu levelled the scores three minutes later, only for Chirwa to restore Eagles’ lead immediately.
Chifuniro Mpinganjira sealed the victory for Eagles just before half-time as Eagles bagged maximum points.
For Eagles coach Gerald Phiri Snr it was a relief after a turbulent season at Eagles where he was almost fire due to poor performance.
He said: “I am speechless. It was a tough season. I am happy that we have won and survived relegation and we are still in the TNM Super League.”
Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira conceded defeat, saying Eagles were a better side.
He said: “We must accept defeat. We have lost today. Let me congratulate Blue Eagles.”
Meanwhile, Chitipa United also collected maximum points, beating Red Lions 2-1 at Karonga Stadium.
Peter Mughogho and Emmanuel Muyira scored for the home team while Royal Bokosi scored Lions’ consolation.
However, Chitipa still get the chop since Eagles have a better goal-difference of -9, having scored 23 and conceded 33.
Chitipa coach Christopher Nyambose said he did his best to save the side.
He said: “I took over the team mid-way through the season when it was at the bottom of the table. I did my best and we have finished on position 14.
“If you look at the table, we have finished at 32 points juts like Eagles and Tigers and we are out because of goal difference.”
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