Bullets out of CAF

 FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ dream of making it into the CAF Champions League group stage went up in smoke yesterday following a 2-0 away loss to hosts Red Arrows.

The People’s Team went into the qualifiers’ preliminary round return match bubbling with confidence following their slender 2-1 home win in the first leg at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe last Sunday. But Red Arrows’ two late strikes could not allow them to to proceed to the group stages.

The latest result means Bullets have allowed Arrows to progress to the continental championship’s final qualifying round on 3-2 aggregate victory. The Zambians have set up a tie against Democratic Republic of Congo champions, TP Mazembe.

In a match monitored on Red Arrows Facebook page yesterday, Bullets seemed to be on the right track to make the grade as they held the hosts for the better part of the game.

However, Arrows’ 65th minute penalty that Saddam Yusuf Phiri converted and Paul Katema’s simple tap-in 10 minutes to time following a goal-mouth scramble, shattered Bullets’ hopes.

With the hosts having more possession in the attacking zone, it turned out to be a tall order for even in-form Bullets striker Nigerian Babatunde Adepoju to threaten Arrows’ defence.

It appeared as if the goal he scored in the first leg plus a brace he notched in their 3-1 FDH Bank Cup semi-final win over Moyale Barracks on Wednesday were by a mere fluke.

Prior to yesterday’s match, Bullets complained about fatigue and injuries as they have so far played three games within a week while Arrows were fresh from their last Sunday’s CAF qualifier’s first leg.

Bul lets played without injured players such as Collin Mujuru, Chikumbutso Salima, Chrispine Mapemba, Yankho Singo, Clyde Senaji and Ernest Petro