Reviewed by Peter KanjereMalawi sports betting writer
Published 3 September 2026
Ekhaya beat Mighty Wanderers by two goals to one at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Sunday 30 August to win the Airtel Top 8, the first club to take the trophy in its debut season in the competition.
Blessings Malinda put Ekhaya ahead from the penalty spot and Allen Chihana added the second. Mphatso Kamanga replied for Wanderers, who could not find an equaliser.
A first trophy in a first season
Ekhaya reached the final at the first attempt in their maiden Airtel Top 8 campaign, and Malawian reporting on the night made the same point twice over: no debutant club had won this competition before. Malawi24’s account of the final credits a squad built largely from players who had already come through national youth teams and academy football, which is a different route from the one the established Blantyre and Lilongwe clubs use.
For Wanderers the defeat closes a heavy fortnight. They had spent August in the FDH Bank Premiership title race, then lost a cup final they were favoured to win. Their director of football David Kanyenda said before the game that the squad was physically, mentally and tactically ready to deliver, which reads differently now.
Simba SC are next
Wanderers turn immediately to the CAF Champions League. The first preliminary round draw of 6 August paired them with Simba SC of Tanzania, with the first leg in Lilongwe and the return in Dar es Salaam. CAF set the opening legs for 4 to 6 September and the return fixtures for 11 to 13 September, and sixteen clubs come through the two preliminary rounds into a group stage that starts at the end of November.
A domestic cup final and a continental tie inside a fortnight is the kind of run that decides how a Malawian season is remembered. AXN Sports will follow both legs.
Where to bet: Malawian cup finals and continental ties carry a narrower menu than the European leagues, so expect match result, double chance, over and under and correct score rather than player markets. Premier Bet, licensed by the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority, prices Malawian football in kwacha with deposits through Airtel Money and Mpamba. A two legged tie moves the qualification price sharply after the first leg, so compare the same market at more than one operator before the return. Our guide to the best betting sites in Malawi covers licensing and payout times, and there is more in Malawi soccer news from AXN Sports. 18+. Gamble responsibly.
