Silver Strikers have booked their spot in the 2025 Airtel Top 8 final after edging Civil Service United 2-1 in a tense semi-final showdown at the Bingu National Stadium on Sunday.

Goals from Nickson Mwase and Emmanuel Allan sealed the win for the Bankers, who will now face defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the final scheduled for 12 July at the same venue.

Late Drama at Bingu

The match was tightly contested, with both sides creating chances but struggling to convert. It was Silver who eventually broke the deadlock in the second half through a towering header by Mwase.

Just when the Bankers looked to be cruising, Civil's Peter Ng'ambi leveled the score with five minutes left on the clock, injecting life into the Servants' camp and pushing the game to a thrilling climax.

However, with penalties looming, Silver's Emmanuel Allan had other plans. In the dying seconds, he headed in a Daniel Sandukira cross, sending the Area 47 faithful into wild celebration.

“It wasn’t a perfect game tactically, but the players showed resilience and reaching the final was our primary target. We now shift focus to 12 July," said Mgangira silver Strikers head coach.

For Civil Service United, the defeat stung more as it marked their second loss to Silver Strikers in just three weeks, having also fallen in a TNM Super League fixture at Silver Stadium.

“It’s painful, we had done our homework, and to lose again to the same team is frustrating. But credit to our boys, they fought until the end,” said Wilson Chidati, Civil’s assistant coach.

Bullets beat Karonga United 2-1 on Saturday night at the BNS courtesy of goals from Chikumbutso Salima and Hassan Kajoke while Karonga got their consolation goal through substitute Robert Luhanga.