Silver Strikers have claimed a vital 1-0 victory over Tanzanian giants YANGA SC in the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round, played on Saturday at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
A 75th-minute goal from Andrew Joseph proved the difference in a tightly contested affair, giving the Malawian side a slender advantage heading into the second leg at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam next week.
The visitors dominated the opening exchanges, pinning Silver Strikers back in their own half for the first 10 minutes. However, despite their early pressure, YANGA failed to register a shot on target during that spell.
As the match progressed, Silver Strikers began to grow in confidence, gradually shifting the momentum in their favor. The midfield battle intensified with both sides trading possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances. YANGA came closest to opening the scoring in the 38th minute when Boka finished neatly, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
YANGA registered the game’s first shot on target just before half-time with a powerful free-kick from Max that forced a decent save from George Chikooka.
The second half saw both teams push forward, but it was the hosts who made the most of their moment. Stain Davie nearly broke the deadlock earlier in the half after rounding the goalkeeper, only to be denied by a goal-line clearance.
The breakthrough came in the 75th minute when Ernest Petro’s precision pass split the YANGA defence, allowing Andrew Joseph to calmly slot home past the onrushing keeper, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Silver Strikers held firm in the final minutes, resisting YANGA’s late efforts to equalise and securing a crucial clean sheet.
After the match, head coach Etson Kadenge Mwafulirwa remained grounded, acknowledging the strength of their opponents.
“We’ve won the first leg, which I consider the first half of a two-legged match. But this is far from over. YANGA is a strong, tactical side with experienced players. We’ll need to stay focused in the second leg. We will not go there just to defend, we must attack wisely and protect our lead,” said Kadenge.
Silver Strikers now turn their attention to next week’s decisive second leg in Tanzania, knowing a draw will be enough to send them through to the next stage of Africa’s most prestigious club competition.
