Red Arrows football club signed off the season in ruthless fashion, beating Green Buffaloes 2 nil in a fiercely contested Defence Force derby.
In a battle laced with tactical duels and military pride, it was captain Saddam Yusuf who broke the deadlock moments after the restart, smashing home on 46 minutes to send the Air Force faithful into full voice and tilt the momentum firmly in Arrows’ favour.
Before that breakthrough, the contest had simmered with uncertainty. Red Arrows saw a golden opportunity slip through their fingers when a penalty awarded was missed by Albert Kangwanda after he was brought down in the box on 21′. His spot kick was brilliantly saved by the Buffaloes goalkeeper and kept the tie delicately balanced at halftime.
But the 2026 Absa champions responded to adversity to keep the 100 percent record of not having lost a single match at Nkoloma Stadium this season.
Noting that their Patron, the Air Force Commander, Lt Gen Oscar Msitu Nyoni was in the stands cheering them on the last day, the Airmen emerged from the tunnel with renewed aggression, sharper movement and greater purpose. Their midfield dictated the tempo while the backline stood like a concrete barricade and frustrated every Buffaloes attempt to mount an upset.
Then came the killer strike arrow. Vice captain Alassane Diarra delivered the final dagger on 74′ when he rose to meet a delightful Kangwanda cross to bury a composed finish beyond the helpless goalkeeper. It was a goal soaked in class and authority, with a perfect exclamation to mark a dominant derby display.
Green Buffaloes huffed and battled, made tactical substitutions in search of a lifeline but Arrows’ defensive discipline once again underlined why they remain one of the league’s most stubborn and organised units.
At full time, the scoreboard read a screaming 2-0 and the performance spoke even louder.
The Airmen marched off with bragging rights, pride and supremacy firmly secured the defence force rights, having beaten Green Eagles a week apart at the same venue. Overly, Buffaloes were left bruised and barbecued in a local and Lusaka derby that they would rather wish to quickly forget except its kept in history.
And on the final day of the super league, Red Arrows did not just win the battle, they threw fresh game on the braai and still owned their blue skies. 2 nill to Arrows on the final day, and the season was done in fashion.
