BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Silver Strikers have given themselves a strong chance of advancing to the next stage of the CAF Champions League following a hard fought 1-1 draw against Elgeco Plus FC of Madagascar in the first leg of their preliminary round tie on Sunday.
The encounter, played at the Cote Do’r National Sports Complex in Mauritius, saw both sides battle for dominance with Elgeco Plus taking an early lead in the 16th minute after a defensive lapse by the Malawian side.
The hosts looked the stronger team in the opening stages and maintained their advantage heading into halftime, leaving Silver Strikers with work to do in the second half.
Silver, popularly known as The Central Bankers, returned from the break with renewed determination.
The team’s persistence paid off in the 54th minute when former Chitipa United star Andrew Joseph leveled the score.
Joseph reacted quickly to a loose ball after a clever pass from Dan Sandukira, slotting home to bring Silver back into the game and silence the vocal Elgeco Plus supporters.
From that point on, the match became a tactical battle with both sides creating chances but failing to find a winner.
Silver’s goalkeeper George Chikooka produced a couple of crucial saves to keep the scoreline intact while the Malawian defense, led by experienced center-back Nickson Mwase, stood firm under pressure.
Silver’s technical panel, led by head coach Edson Kadenge, praised the team’s resilience and fighting spirit after the match and he noted that the away goal could prove decisive in the second leg, which will be played at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on September 27, 2025.
Elgeco Plus, on the other hand, are no strangers to continental football and are expected to fight back strongly in Lilongwe.
Their coach hinted after the match that his side will adopt a more attacking approach in the return leg as they look to overturn the away goal deficit.
