The 2025 edition of the Airtel Top 8 will kick off on April 12 with champions FCB Nyasa Bullets starting their defence campaign at home against Creck Sporting Club at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The quarter-final first-leg will be followed by an away second leg at a yet-to-be-disclosed venue on April 27.
The development comes after the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) yesterday confirmed dates for the quarter-final matches that will involve teams that finished in top-eight of the 2024 TNM Super League battling it out for glory.
In their last two meetings in the 2024 Super League, the sides settled for a goalless draw before Bullets triumphed 3-2.
Creck head coach Joseph ‘Shakira’ Kamwendo yesterday said they are more than ready to face the 2024 Airtel Top 8 champions.
“We know we are going into this game as underdogs and Bullets will come hard on us. However, we are not under pressure because cup games can go either way,” he said.
His Bullets counterpart Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda said: “A very big game. Creck are so ambitious and eager to win something. It won’t be easy.”
FAM stated in a press statement that the other quarter-final first leg will see Mighty Wanderers hosting Karonga United on April 19 at Kamuzu Stadium with the second leg scheduled for April 26 at Karonga Stadium.
Mzuzu City Hammers will be up against Civi Service United on April 20 in Mzuzu before the reverse fixture on May 18 at a yet- to-be-communicated venue in Lilongwe.
TNM Super League champions and last year’s losing finalists Silver Strikers will entertain Moyale Barracks on April 21 at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe before facing off in the return leg in Mzuzu on May 17.
“Winners after the two legged quarter-finals will make the grade for the semi-finals scheduled for June 28 and 29. The final will take place on July 12,” reads the FAM statement in part.
So far, only Bullets, Wanderers and Silver have played in all the seven editions of the competition, which will be the first cup in the 2025/26 season.
