The headline fixture of Match Week 18 of the NBM Women’s Premiership will see champions Silver Strikers Ladies host third placed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women at Silver Stadium, where the inaugural champions will officially be crowned.
While the title has already been decided, the final round of fixtures carries significant importance as teams battle for final league positions. FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women go into the final matchday sitting third on 31 points, three ahead of fourth placed MDF Lionesses, who have 28 points.
MDF Lionesses face a tricky away assignment in Mzuzu against relegated Topik Academy at FAM’s Luwinga Football School of Excellence.
Goal difference could prove decisive in the race for third place. FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women hold a goal difference of 14, just one better than MDF Lionesses on 13. As a result, the Maule Ladies cannot afford a heavy defeat without scoring, especially if the Lionesses register a convincing win in Mzuzu.
The fight for bragging rights and a higher finish also includes Civil Service Women, who sit fifth on 28 points. Civil Service Women take on sixth placed Kukoma Ntopwa Women at Civo Stadium. Kukoma Ntopwa trail Civil Service Women by just one point, making the contest crucial in shaping the final standings.
Most of the uncertainty in the table affects teams placed between third and sixth, with limited implications for seventh placed Mighty Wanderers Queens, who have 23 points and host relegated MK Academy at Mpira Stadium.
Confirmed runners up Ascent Soccer, who have amassed 38 points, will conclude their season at home against relegated Moyale Sisters. Ascent Soccer will be seeking to finish strongly and maintain a seven point gap behind the champions.
Attention will also be on Golden Boot winner Deborah Henry, who has scored 23 goals this season. Henry ended a three match scoring drought with a goal and an assist when Silver Strikers Ladies thrashed MK Academy 10 to 0 on John Chilembwe Day and will be eager to add to her tally if selected for the final match.
