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Rematch!

 

Barely three days after facing off in the finals of the Carlsberg Cup at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Be Forward Wanderers and Masters Security FC clash this afternoon at the same venue in a Fisd Challenge Cup contest expected to be so fiery and passionate.

The Lilongwe-based Masters, popularly known as Migwanya, stunned the Nomads 5-4 through post-match penalties to win their first-ever national silverware on Saturday.

Masters’ captain Francis Mkonda (L) and Nomads’ Yamikani Chester fight for the ball during the Carlsberg Cup final

After that match, Masters did not travel back to their base in the capital city but, instead, opted to continue their camping at Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) Mpira Hotel in Chiwembe Township in preparation for this afternoon’s round of 16 clash.

Nomads’ team manager Stevie Madeira has since declared that they would stop at nothing to avenge Saturday’s defeat which he described as painful.

He said it will be payback time as they seek to redeem themselves from shame.

Wanderers need to win today’s match to be on course to completing the 2018 season with a silverware as their chances of defending the TNM Super League title appear slim, considering that they are 10 points behind leaders  and their bitter rivals Nyasa Big Bullets. Wanderers are third on the 16-team log table with 45 points from 22 games, a match less than Bullets who have 55 points.

“We have to beat Masters at all cost to show our character that we are able to pick ourselves up after a fall. Pressure is really on us in this encounter but it will be very embarrassing to lose twice to Masters within a space of four days,” said Madeira.

“Both of us want to progress to the next round of the Fisd Cup, but we are the ones who desperately need that success most to redeem ourselves.”

But his Masters’ counterpart Muhammad Selemani yesterday said they are not in a mood to show mercy to the Lali Lubani Road outfit.

“We are very prepared for the showdown. We are not afraid of the Nomads. We will actually beat them again tomorrow,” he said.

“We are giant killers and we will replicate the Carlsberg Cup final form tomorrow [today]. In fact, teams must prepare well if they are to beat us because we are not turning off the heat.”

During the Carlsberg Cup final, Wanderers took the lead just 40 seconds into the match through Precious Sambani’s header before Masters equalised in the 85th minute through Sam Phiri’s strike before the match went into post-match penalties.

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