Malawi’s Nyasa Big Bullets are out of the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League after falling 2-0 away to Tanzania’s Simba SC on Sunday.
The TNM Super League champions that lost 2-0 in the first leg scored in the first half through Moses Phiri who added his second on the resumption.
Big Bullets tried to fight back and enjoyed most of the possession in the remaining 15 minutes but without managing to pull back a consolation.
Simba dominated the match from the start, but they could not convert their chances in the first 15 minutes of the match.
Kibu Denis fired wide of the target after being set-up by Muzamiru , before Clatous Chama headed wide of the target from a corner-kick.
The Tanzanian side continued to launch attacks with Kanoute looking to haunt the visitors, having been deployed in the position in the absence of Sakho
The deadlock was broken on the 28th minute and it was Phiri who fired the hosts into the lead.
Big Bullets tried to push for the equalising goal, but the Msimbazi Reds stood firm at the back to ensure that the first half ended with Simba leading 1-0.
Simba continued their dominance after the half-time break and Big Bullets goalkeeper Mkungula had to pull off a great save to deny Kibu, who had been sent through on goal.
However, the Malawi international was beaten for the second time on the night ten minutes before the hour-mark.
Zambian international Phiri fired home to make it 2-0 to the home side after the Peoples Team had failed to clear their lines.
The goal did not come as a surprise as the Msimbazi had netted 17.9% of their goals between the 45th minute and 60th minute in their Champions League matches in the last two seasons.
Big Bullets had to attack in numbers in the closing stages of the game, but Righteous Banda, Batatunde and Frank Willard all saw their shots blocked inside the Msimbazi Reds box.
” Very unfortunate, most of my boys were not okay, very weak, you saw some of them I had brought in but they were coming up feeling dizzy. I don’t know what was the problem with the food they ate,” said Big Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa.
Nyasa Big Bullets joins other big African teams that has bowed out of the competition in the preliminary stage such as Asante Kotoko and Real de Bangui.
