The stage is set for the semifinals of the 2024 Airtel Top 8 at Bingu National Stadium this weekend.
It will be an action-packed weekend as Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Silver Strikers renew their rivalry at the same venue on Saturday evening before defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets lock horns with Kamuzu Barracks on Sunday afternoon.
There is a lot to play for in this weekend matches as winners will progress to the final to be staged next week at the same venue.
Silver and Wanderers are familiar foes in the Airtel Top 8 having met during the inaugural final 2017. Then, Silver beat Wanderers 10-9 on post-match penalties after goal-less in regulation time.
The two teams also met in quarterfinals of the competition in 2019. But Silver advanced to the semifinals after beating Wanderers by 1-0 margins in both legs.
They also met at the same quarterfinals stage last year in which Silver also booked a semi-final berth after they were declared winners 4-0 on aggregate after Wanderers lost both abandoned and boycotted matches.
Both teams are heading into the epic battle on Saturday evening, still in the race for unprecedented treble this season.
To make this Saturday clash interesting, Silver and Wanderers are fighting for the TNM Super League title with six matches to wind up the season. Silver are in the driving seat with 54 points while Wanderers are second with 47 points.
The two teams are coming from their league matches victories as Silver defeated Mzuzu City Hammers 2- 0 at Mzuzu Stadium while Wanderers registered a 2-1 win over Chitipa United.
On top of that , both teams are still in the Castel Challenge Cup this season.
Heading into the match, Silver have only lost one match in all competitions this season and that was in the FDH Bank Cup Round of 32 to eventual champions Blue Eagles. They lost 5-3 on post-match penalties after goal-less in regulation time at Nankhaka Stadium.
On the other hand, Wanderers have lost six matches in all competitions this season. The Nomads have lost five matches in the TNM Super League and one match in the FDH Bank Cup.
Silver reached the Airtel Top 8 semifinals after beating Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos 6-2 on aggregate while Wanderers defeated Bangwe All Stars 4-2 on post match penalties after 1-1 on aggregate.
Wanderers coach Meke Mwase said he has done good home work to break winless jinx against Silver in the Airtel Top 8.
“I was not around when Wanderers played Silver in the Airtel Top 8. But again, we are playing them in the semifinals which we always want to win to be in the final.
“We expect a very tough match because both teams want to win to be in the final. Silver have been doing well this season, they are top of the league but this is a different game,” said Mwase.
Both teams rested some players during the midweek league matches.
On his part, Silver coach Peter Mponda said his charges are ready to continue their dominance over Wanderers in the competition.
