Nyasa Big Bullets withdraw from the CECAFA Kagame Cup

The 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup has suffered another blow after Nyasa Big Bullets, one of Malawi’s football clubs, announced its withdrawal. This is another major blow to the competition, following another withdrawal by TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to Albert Chigoga, the Chief Administration Officer of Nyasa Big Bullets  team has chosen to focus its attention on domestic competitions and the CAF Champions League, which starts in August. The poor performance in the TNM Super League was reason enough to pull out of the competition, according to Chigoga.

The CECAFA Kagame Cup, set to take place from July 6 to 22 in Zanzibar and Tanzania, will no longer feature the Nyasa Big Bullets, who were invited as guest teams alongside TP Mazembe and Red Arrows.

Despite this setback, the tournament will still feature notable teams like APR from Rwanda, Gor Mahia from Kenya, and Tanzanian giants Simba SC and Young Africans.

Nyasa Big Bullets’ withdrawal marks the second major team to pull out of the CECAFA Cup, following TP Mazembe’s decision to opt out due to their off-season break. The draw for the tournament is scheduled to take place next week.

Their withdrawals may come as a relief to Gor Mahia, as they will face less competition in the tournament. However, the withdrawal of Nyasa Big Bullets and TP Mazembe has reduced the competitiveness and appeal of the CECAFA Kagame Cup.

The draw for the tournament is scheduled to take place next week.

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Nyasa Big Bullets last participated in the CECAFA Cup in 2021, where they finished as runners-up after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Uganda’s Express FC under the then assistant coach Peter Mponda.

This year’s focus on the CAF Champions League, which is set to begin in August, underscores the Bullets’ commitment to improving their standing in continental competitions.