Ekhaya FC yesterday punched above their weight to outclass giants Mighty Wanderers 2-1 and have their name on the Airtel Top 8 trophy as 2026 champions at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
The Cowboys went into this final as underdogs but they took a bold step to defy the odds and carry the day with two goals from Blessings Malinda and Allen Chihana in either half. Wanderers got their equaliser four minutes into the second half through Mphatso Kamanga.
In a post-match interview yesterday, Ekhaya coach Enos Chatama said that after defeating previous champions FCB Nyasa Bullets in the quarter-finals and Karonga United in the semi-finals boosted their confidence ahead of the final.
“After beating other giants along the way, we built fearless ambitions to win this cup,” he said.
| Courtesy of FAM
Ekhaya FC club president William Mpinganjira said he was happy to see his team winning a major cup competition on their second season as an elite league club.
He also thanked his father Thomson Mpinganjira, who watched the match as Wanderers president and main sponsor, for teaching them to be bold enough to face the challenges that come their way.
“I don’t know what to say. I am so emotional. I didn’t expect to win a trophy within such a short period. I thank my father for teaching us how to take on tough challenges,” William said.
Yesterday, Ekhaya scored first from the spot in the 38th minute of the match dubbed ‘the Mpinganjira derby’ as the two teams are owned by a father and his son. Man of the match Blessings Malinda converted the penalty, which resulted from a handball by a Wanderers defender in the box.
Three minutes before that, Wanderers had the ball in the net through Clement Nyondo but it was disallowed for an infringement and the two sides went for a half-time break with Ekhaya leading 1-0.
Wanderers finally restored parity in four minutes into the second half when Mphatso Kamanga rounded off two Cowboys’ defenders before tucking the ball under goalkeeper Clever Mkungula’s near post.
But 10 minutes later, Ekhaya regained the lead through Allen Chihana’s header from Malinda’s well-taken free-kick.
Among high-profile figures that patronised the match were Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata, Malawi National Council of Sports board chairperson Jim Kalua, Lilongwe City Mayor Peter Banda and Football Association of Malawi vice-president Madalitso Kuyera.
