Two teams will this afternoon get the boot from the Airtel Top 8 while two more will follow suit tomorrow as the decisive quarter-second legs take centre stage.
This afternoon, holders and record three-time winners FCB Nyasa Big Bullets face a stern test against Ekhaya FC at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre, having played out a one-all draw in the first leg at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe a fortnight ago.
first leg. I Courtesy of FAM
On the other hand, Civil Service (Civo) United play host to fellow capital city-based Blue Eagles at Civo Stadium.
The two teams also shared the spoils in the first leg with a goalless draw at the same venue.
In a pre-match interview, Bullets coach Wedson Nyirenda said they need to approach today’s encounter with a different mentality from a league fixture.
He said: “A cup game is a cup game where a result is needed there and then. You are not looking for a draw or anything else. If you want to progress, you simply have to win.
“So, we need to score goals, defend well and manage the game properly. I think that is all we need and we are prepared for it.”
The Zambian tactician acknowledged that the Cowboys will be a hard nut to crack based on their recent good results.
He said: “They have gone several matches without losing and we have also gone several matches unbeaten. The only difference is that we are now scoring goals, managing the games better and winning matches.
“It is going to be an exciting contest.”
His Ekhaya FC counterpart Enos Chatama also said they expect a tough match.
He said: “Bullets are a big side and are unbeaten. They are also the holders of the cup. So, it’s not going to be easy.
“But we have prepared for them both pyschologically and tactically. We need to continue from where we stopped in the first leg in which we dominated the our chances.”
Tomorrow, Mighty Wanderers head to Aubrey Dimba Stadium in Mchinji to face Creck Sporting Club with a spring in their step, after winning the first leg 2-0 at home.
But the Nomads coach Bob Mpinganjira said they are not throwing caution to the wind.
“We cannot afford the luxury of thinking that we are in the comfort zone because we are not. Anything can happen as this will be a totally different game altogether,” he said.
On his part, Creck Sporting coach Ernest ‘Wire’ Mtawali said although they are two goals down, they are not down yet.
“We cannot go there thinking that we are already defeated, that’s not how football works. Yes, we are down but we will give it our all until the last whistle and see what happens,” he said.
Last year’s losing finalists Silver Strikers also go into their fixture against Karonga United at Karonfa Stadium carrying a two-goal lead, but their coach Peter ‘Shoes’ Mgangira said the battle isn’t over yet.
“Tables are turned in football and we cannot get carried away with a two-goal lead, especially considering that we are playing away,” he said.
It will be the first game for Ingwina ya Karonga’s caretaker coach Christopher Chinkwita who stepped in following the suspension of head coach Audlow Makonyola.
