Ekhaya FC will lock horns with Shire Wimbe FC in what promises to be a thrilling Castel Challenge Cup Round of 16 encounter on Saturday afternoon at Nankhaka Stadium.
Road to the Round of 16
The hosts, Shire Wimbe FC, formerly known as Panthers, come into this fixture buoyed by a commanding 4–0 victory over Chintheche United a few weeks ago.
Widely known for their pedigree in this competition, Shire Wimbe made headlines last season with an impressive run that carried them all the way to the semi-finals.
Their 2024 Castel Challenge Cup journey was nothing short of remarkable. They brushed aside MAFCO FC in the Round of 64 before knocking out Chitipa United in the Round of 32.
The giant-killing continued with the elimination of Silver Strikers in the Round of 16 and Civil Service United in the quarter-finals, before their run was eventually halted by Mighty Wanderers FC in the semis.
Domestically, Shire Wimbe sit fourth on the Chipiku CRFA League table, having accumulated 49 points from 27 matches.
However, they head into today’s tie seeking a quick response after suffering a narrow 1–0 defeat to TN Stars in their most recent league outing.
The journey for Shire Wimbe in this campaign began with a 3–2 win over Kwele FC in the preliminary round, followed by another 3–2 triumph against Amour Battalion.
From there, the Lilongwe Area 49-based side travelled to Jenda and delivered a statement performance with a 6–1 victory, setting up a tense Round of 64 clash against Mchinji Villa.That encounter ended 2–2 after normal time, with Ekhaya holding their nerve to win 5–4 on post-match penalties.
They advanced to the Round of 32, where they dismantled Chintheche United 4–0, booking this mouth-watering Round of 16 showdown against Shire Wimbe FC.
To get to this stage, Ekhaya had to display their fighting spirit to edge past Ntaja United 4–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw in regulation time.
What’s at Stake
With both sides eyeing the next round of the competition and boasting contrasting styles, the two sides are poised for a cracking cup tie.
A place in the quarter-finals awaits, and neither side will want their Castel Challenge Cup dream to end at this stage.
Coach Enos Chatama ahead of Shire Wimbe
"We do not know more about Shire Wimbe, it should be a tough game. It has always nlt been easy agsinst lower-league sidds. In Cup games, we cannot predict but we just have to be ready."
Match Officials
Referee: Kondwani Alex Kamwendo
1st Assistant: Clemence Kanduku
2nd Assistant: Charles Lulaka
Fourth Official: Rodrick Kapatamoyo
Matchday Tickets
Open Stand: K4,000
Covered Stand: K6,000
How to Watch
Fans can follow live match updates across the club’s official social media platforms.
All eyes will be on this Round of 16 clash as Ekhaya FC and Shire Wimbe FC go head-to-head, each determined to take one step closer to Castel Challenge Cup glory.
