Chipiku Premier Division side, Blue Eagles on Sunday lifted the K150 million FDH Cup for the first time after defeating defending champions, Nyasa Big bullets, on post-match penalties 3-2 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe’s Area 48.
Eagles substitute goalkeeper, Joshua Waka turned to be hero of the day when he saved three penalties from Previous Phiri, Clyde Senaj and Babatunde Adepoju.
The two teams were deadlocked 0-0 at the end of the regulation time despite Bullets creating more attacks but Eagles custodian, Brighton Munthali was a marvel to watch with his reflex saves.
Eagles converted their penalties through Andrew Junvinala, Ganizani James and Ranken Mwale while Micium Mhone and Jacob Robert failed to deliver home their spots while Bullets scored their penalties through Gomezgani Chirwa and Nixon Nyasulu.
The win has prevented Bullets from claiming a treble feat in FDH Cup finals since 2022 and another quadruple year seems to be history.
The Area 30 Cops have claimed a treble over Bullets on Cup finals as they first did it in 1995 when they hammered them 2-0- at Civo Stadium in Area 9 during the defunct Chibuku Cup final, and Airtel Top 8 final in 2018 when they reduced them to size with a 1-0 win through a penalty scored by Stuart Mbuenge.
Eagles Coach, Elia Guardiola Kananji has made history that he has made a third team he has coached to win a cup after Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers previously.
During both halves Bullets dominated play with Ronald Chitiyo, Babatunde and Ephraim Kondowe having an attempt at Eagles goal area but they failed to elude the ever alert, Munthali.
Eagles had a half chance after 19 minutes when Schumacher Kuwali’s effort hit the cross bar with Bullets stopper, Richard Chimbamba well beaten.
At the half mark Referee, David Chinoko appeared to be losing truck and players were committing a lot of fouls but he was always taking lenient views.
The second was more similar page of the first as Bullets continued piling pressure on the Nankhaka Boys but they still had challenge of putting the ball at the back of the net.
With nine minutes to time, Chimbamba had a poor clearance outside the edge of the penalty but the loose ball was blasted over by Eagle’s midfielder, Laurent Banda.
Eagles Coach, Kananji made a tactical change on the 89th minute when he brought out injured Munthali for Waka and it paid dividend to them.
“This was one of the fine cup final which has lived up to the billing but the pitch has marred the beauty of it. It was very unfortunate that the invasion which engineered by men in uniform when they were supposed to safeguard safety of the fans,” a football devotee from Kawale, Mayeso Mussa observed.
He added, “The invading fans have put pressure on the surface of the pitch and we only have four days to fix it before we face Burundi in the World cup qualifiers.”
As Champions, Blue Eagles will pocket K35 million while the losing finalists, Bullets will get K17 million.
