With one match remaining, Ascent Soccer have been confirmed as runners-up in the NBM Women’s Premiership following a 3–1 away victory over Kukoma Ntopwa Women at Mpira Stadium in a John Chilembwe Day morning fixture.
Ascent broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when Mayamiko Mkandawire finished off a well worked team move. Nine minutes later she completed her brace in the 73rd minute, again tapping in from close range after another superb delivery from Alepha Chimbeta, and she went on to complete her hat trick in the 94th minute.
Ntopwa pulled one back deep into stoppage time when Sarah Mlimbika scored directly from a free kick in the 90+2 minute, but Ascent quickly restored their two-goal cushion a minute later. Chimbeta once again provided the assist as Mkandawire completed her hat-trick, capping a dominant individual performance. Mkandawire was deservedly named Player of the Match, though special praise also went to Chimbeta for supplying three assists, a rare achievement.
Ascent now sit on 38 points, seven clear of FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women, who suffered a 1–0 home defeat to Civil Service Women at Mpira Stadium. The decisive goal came in the 56th minute through Vitumbiko Mkandawire, her eighth goal of the season.
In a relegation-zone encounter, Topik Academy edged Moyale sisters 1–0, courtesy of an 86th-minute strike from Florah Shonga, moving Topik up to 9th place and pushing Moyale back to the bottom of the table.
Meanwhile, champions Silver Strikers Ladies produced a ruthless display, demolishing relegated MK Academy 10–0 at Luwinga Stadium. First-half goals from Caroline Mathyola, Ireen Khumalo, Deborah Henry, substitute Yamikani Mhango, and a second from Mathyola sent the champions into halftime with a commanding 5–0 lead.
The goal spree continued after the break as Ireen Mathyola completed her hat-trick in the 57th minute (assisted by Deborah Henry), followed by goals from Tiwonge Phiri (60’), Madina Ngulube (64’), and Angela Mwalilino (71’). The rout was completed when MK Academy’s Tereza Kanyika scored an own goal in the 76th minute under sustained pressure.
At Champion Stadium, MDF Lionesses claimed a narrow 1–0 victory over Mighty Wanderers Queens, with Mervis Misomali scoring the decisive goal in the 87th minute. The win lifted MDF Lionesses to 28 points and into fourth place, displacing Kukoma Ntopwa.
The match ended on a sour note, however, as tensions flared following Wanderers Queens’ protests over the goal. Shira Mangani was shown a red card after confronting the referee during the altercation.
