Silver Strikers Football Club has booked a place in the 2024 Airtel Top 8 finals after edging out Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 1-0 in a mesmerizing semifinal match at Bingu National Stadium on Saturday evening.

A single goal from forward Binwell Katinji in the eighth minute was all it took to secure the victory for the Bankers, setting up a potential showdown against either FCB Nyasa Big Bullets or Kamuzu Barracks, who will clash in the second semifinal on Sunday afternoon at the same venue.

Katinji’s decisive strike came from a well-timed run by Chisinsi Maonga down the right flank, taking advantage of a defensive mix-up between Wanderers’ Lawrence Chaziya and Peter Cholopi. Maonga’s pinpoint pass found Katinji in prime position to slot home with his first touch, leaving Wanderers goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa with no chance.

Katinji scores. Pic curtsey of Silver media team

The Bankers dominated possession in the first half, creating a series of scoring opportunities and winning six corners to Wanderers’ three.

Katinji and Maonga were relentless in challenging the Wanderers’ defense, with Silver Strikers pressing high and dictating the pace.

Despite their dominance, the Bankers couldn’t convert additional chances, while Wanderers struggled to find their rhythm.

The Nomads’ closest attempt came in the 18th minute when Isaac Kaliati’s shot from outside the box narrowly missed the top corner.

In the second half, Silver Strikers faced added adversity when Nickson Mwase received a second yellow card in the 76th minute, reducing them to ten men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Silver’s defense remained solid, and Wanderers, though persistent, could not break through.

George Chikooka was instrumental in goal for Silver, making crucial saves, including a close-range stop from Sama Thierry in the 64th minute.

At the final whistle, Silver Strikers’ coach Peter Mponda praised his team’s resilience and commitment, recognizing the match as a hard-fought win.

Silvers Chimwemwe Idana tries to pass through Wanderers defenders. Pic curtsey of Silver media team

“Very happy with the fighting spirit, very happy with the result. But in terms of playing, we didn’t play well. We only played the first thirty minutes of the first half. It was very unfortunate that we didn’t utilize the several chances we created, but I am happy with the fighting spirit of the boys,” said Mponda.

Reflecting on the impact of Mwase’s red card, Mponda explained his strategic shift for the team.

“We needed to change, and we did. I told them to be strong defensively and to look for counter-attacks. We managed to get about two or three counters, but unfortunately, we didn’t convert them,” added Mponda.

On the opposite side, Wanderers’ head coach Meck Mwase expressed disappointment with the early goal, which he felt disrupted their game plan.

“We conceded very early, which has been an issue we’ve been facing. The boys tried their best, but I think we just didn’t have chances to score,” he said.

Commenting on the difficulty his team faced after Silver’s red card, Mwase added, “It’s sometimes very difficult when the opposing team is down a player—they often work even harder. Even with our dominance, we couldn’t capitalize to score. We still have two cups to pursue, and we’ll encourage our players to keep working hard.”

Silver Strikers now await the outcome of Sunday’s second semifinal between FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Kamuzu Barracks, with the winner set to meet the Bankers in the Airtel Top 8 final.