Bullets get nod for CAF

FCB Nyasa Bullets board has approved the club’s participation in the 2024/25 edition of the CAF Champions League.

The People’s Team has failed to get past the first hurdle in the last four of their five attempts of the African premier club showpiece.

But in an interview yesterday, the club’s chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said the team is hopeful of doing well in the 61st edition of the African club safari.

He said: “We have resolved to take part in the CAF Champions League following the board’s approval and we have communicated to FAM [Football Association of Malawi] on the same.

“We await further communication from them as regards registration and other logistics.”

FAM club licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said following Bullets’ decision, the remaining slot is for CAF Confederation Cup.

“As earlier stated, Bullets had the right of refusal, having swept all silverware on the domestic scene and having chosen the Champions League, then it means any other team that also wants to join will take up the Confederation Cup slot,” he said.

The decision comes amidst Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa’s doubts on the team’s ability to compete in the elite African clubs’ tournament.

He was quoted as having said that the club lacks depth to compete at that level. However, he could not be reached to comment on whether he has changed his stand.

Silver Strikers, who finished as runners-up to Bullets in both the TNM Super League and Castel Challenge Cup, which is the biggest national competition, were entitled to the slot.

But the Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored outfit ruled themselves out of the CAF competition, saying they did not win anything last season.

The club’s chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba said: “Participation in such elite tournaments needs to be earned and it wouldn’t look good at all for us to participate on the basis of coming second.”

Next in line are Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, who finished third in the league and their president and board chairperson Thomson Mpinganjira said the club would consider taking part depending on its performance between the start of the season and the registration period.

In the women’s section, newly-crowned national champions Ascent Academy on Wednesday confirmed their participation in the CAF Women’s Champions League Cosafa Qualifying Tournament.

Last year, Bullets booted out Dragon FC of Equatorial Guinea 3-0 on aggregate in the first preliminary round before being booted out by TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo 5-0 on aggregate.