Eddie Chikamhi
KALISTO Pasuwa feels his men were wasteful as Nyasa Big Bullets ended an eight-year jinx at the weekend by progressing to the second round of the CAF Champions League.
This is the first time they have moved into the second round since 2015.
Bullets beat Equatorial Guinea champions Dragon FC 1-0 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Sunday.
They have booked a date with former African champions, TP Mazembe, of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The first leg of the second round encounter has been slated for September 16 at the Bingu National Stadium.
Pasuwa and his charges advanced 3-0 on aggregate after winning the reverse fixture 2-0 in Malabo last week.
He praised his troops for showing real character in the two-legged encounter.
“We created several chances but we were a bit wasteful in front of goal.
“But the good thing is that we are in the second round. So we just have to prepare well for the big match against Mazembe,” Pasuwa said.
Despite dominating the domestic league for the past four seasons, in which Pasuwa won the title on each campaign, the Bullets have struggled to make an impression on the continent.
But things are looking promising in the current campaign.
Forward Ephraim Kondowe came from the bench to grab the winner for Pasuwa’s side in front of a huge crowd an assure his team of more continental football this season.
According to reports from Malawi, “the atmosphere was terrific in Lilongwe, with blaring car horns and red-and-white flags a common feature.
“The capital was painted red and white and no one could blame the ecstatic fans who had waited eight years for this great moment to come.
“The fans turned up in large numbers with the hope of seeing Bullets win with a cricket score but the visitors were solid at the back.
“However, Bullets could have scored more than one goal in the first half but lack of composure upfront cost them.”
Bullets finished the game with 10 men after one of their senior players Yamikani Fodya was shown a red card for fouling a Dragon striker on the edge of the box.