Battle lines have been drawn between FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Goshen City Dedza Dynamos as they clash in the final of the 2025 Ibongetse Castel Challenge Cup at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe this afternoon.
At stake is K55 million winner’s prize while the losing finalist will get K30 million less.
The David versus Goliath affair will also bring down the curtain to the 2025/26 season.
The two teams go into the battle with contrasting feats and targets.
The People’s team, who were the first winners of the cup in 2023, go into the contest itching to become the first side to win the tournament twice and will be making their 17th cup final appearance in 14 years.
On the other hand, for Dedza Dynamos it will be their first-ever cup final appearance in a major tournament.
Dynamos in a previous league
match.I Courtesy of Dedza Dynamos
As they arrived in the capital city from Mponela in Dowa yesterday, where they had been camping in the countdown to the final, Dedza Dynamos players appeared relaxed and at ease.
Ahead of their final training session, coach Alex Ngwira said they are ready for the battle.
“Our preparations have gone on smoothly. We are not in a cold sweat ahead of our first-ever major final. We know we are the underdogs, but that doesn’t bother us at all,” he said.
“We have a good game plan which if well executed will make us to carry the day.”
On the other hand, his Bullets counterpart, Gilbert Chirwa, said his troops are also set for the showdown.
“We are motivated to go there and win the cup. The boys are fit and ready to perform,” a few words from the battle-hardened coach.
Bullets will look up to their revitalised forward Maxwell Gasten Phodo, who leads the competition’s scorers’ chart with seven goals in four matches while Yamikani Mologeni has been conducting their orchestra, creating six of the 10 goals they have scored.
Their other potential match winner is attacker Wongani Lungu, who claimed a brace in their 2-0 victory over Mzuzu City Hammers in the semis.
On the other hand, Dedza Dynamos booted out Blue Eagles 4-3 on post-match penalties after playing out a one-all draw in regulation time.
Lughano Kayira, Bright Masebo and Luke chima are some of the men that carry Dedza Dynmos’ hopes to reach the promised land.
When the two teams met in the Super League this season, Bullets enjoyed a double over Dedza Dynamos with 1-0 and 3-0 victories in the first and second rounds, respectively.
