Central Region Football League side Blue Eagles have made history as the first non Super League side to win the FDH Bank Cup following 3-2 victory over FCB Nyasa Big Bullets on post-match penalties at Bingu National Stadium on Sunday.
The match ended goal-less in regulation time.
This means Eagles have beaten Bullets in two consecutive finals after the 1-0 victory in the Airtel Top 8 final in 2018.
Substitute goalkeeper Joshua Waka was the hero for Eagles after he saved two penalties from Precious Phiri and Babatunde Adepoju.
Ranken Mwale spiced it up all when he netted the winning penalty for the Eagles.
Kenyan defender Clyde Senanji missed his spot kick. Mwale, Andrew Juvinala and Ganizani James made no mistakes as they converted their spot kicks. But Richard Chimbamba saved penalties from Micium Mhone and Jacob Robert.
Gomezgani Chirwa and Nickson Nyasulu scored their penalties for Bullets.
The victory over Bullets completed Eagles ‘fairly tale in this year’s competition having eliminated three Super League teams enroute to the final.
Along the way, the Silver Strikers (5-3 on post-match penalties), Baka City (3-0), Karonga United (2-0).
Eagles have won the FDH Bank Cup without conceding a goal in open play in five consecutive matches from the Round of 32.
Both teams had opportunities to win the match in regulation time but it never happened.
Bullets dominated the first half and had some chances to bury the game but Babatunde Adepoju, Ronald Chitiyo and Ephraim Kondowe were wasteful in front of goal.
On the other hand, Schumacher Kuwali nearly gave Eagles the lead but his effort hit the cross bar in the first half.
The two teams created few opportunities in the second half as they settled for goal-less in regulation time.
Eagles coach Elia Kananji praised his players for the victory.
“We were determined to win the competition. Our records in the competition speak volume. We came from far and we demonstrated that we are a good team,” Kananji said, who became the first coach managing a second -tier side to win the FDH Bank Cup.
Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa rued missed chances especially in the first half.
“The intensity of the match was very high. In the first half, we could have used our chances, we got. You can’t leave the game to go to penalties, it is anyone’s to get it. Unfortunately, we were on the other end, well done to Eagles,” said Pasuwa.
However, the 2024 FDH Bank Cup will be remembered for more good reasons.
Since its inception in 2021, Eagles are the first Regional League team to win the FDH Bank Cup. Despite the defeat in Sunday’s final, Bullets are record holders of the competition having won it in 2022 and 2023.
Silver Strikers won it in 2021. The semi-final between Bullets and Moyale Barracks was played under flood lights for the first time after decades.
