STATS: 8 stats from the MTN8 final

Orlando Pirates beat Stellenbosch 3-0 in the MTN8 final on Saturday evening at Mbombela Stadium, to lift the first piece of silverware. The result ensured the Bucaneers retain their crown, successfully defending the trophy for a 3rd time (4 wins). It was a tense game, typical of many finals over the years, with extra-time needed to separate the sides.

For Stellenbosch, it’s a second successive season where they have lost the showpiece games, and Steve Barker will be wondering what he needs to do to get over the line in this competition. Here are eight stats to commemorate Pirates’ historic victory.

On Pirates dominating the competition

4 – Pirates are the first team to win four consecutive Top8 titles since the tournament’s inception in 1972.

Pirates consecutive titles:

• Beat AmaZulu in 2022
• Beat Sundowns in 2023
• Beat Stellenbosch in 2024 & 2025

On Ouaddou joining an exclusive club:

11 – Abdeslam Ouaddou is the 6th coach in Pirates PSL history to win the Top8 competition.

Pirates coaches to win the PSL era Top8:

• Gordon Igesund (2000)
• Ruud Krol (2010)
• Julio Leal (2011)
• Josef Zinnbauer (2020)
• Jose Riveiro (2022-2024)
• Ouaddou (2025)

On Pirates stopping Stellies

1 – Pirates are the first team to stop Stellenbosch scoring at least once in an MTN8 game, with The Maroons previously scoring in 11 consecutive games in the competition.

Stellies scoring record in the MTN8:

• 2022 – Played 1 game, Scored in 1 game
• 2023 – P3 S3
• 2024 – P4 S4
• 2025 – P4 S3

On Stellenbosch’s struggles

3 – Stellenbosch are the third PSL team to lose back-to-back Top 8 finals, but the first to lose both to the same team.

Teams that lost back-to-back finals:

• Sundowns 2001-2002
• Orlando Pirates 2013-2014
• Stellenbosch 2024-2025

More on Stellies struggles

3 – Stellenbosch have lost three games in the MTN8 competition (out of 8) – with all of the defeats coming against Orlando Pirates.

Stellies’ defeats to Pirates:

• 2025 – final (0-3)
• 2024 – final (1-3)
• 2023 – semi-final 1st leg (1-2)

On Tshegofatso Mabasa

2 – Mabasa is only the second player in PSL history to score in back-to-back Top8 finals.

Players to score in back-to-back Top8 finals:

• Rotson Kilambe (2005 for Bloemfontein Celtic and 2006 for Kaizer Chiefs)
• Tshegofatso Mabasa

More on Mabasa

47 – Tshegofatso Mabasa has now scored 47 goals in all competitions for Orlando Pirates, the second most of any player for the club in PSL history.

Most goals at Pirates:

• Benedict Vilakazi – 58
• Tshegofatso Mabasa – 47

On Tshepang Moremi

4 – Tshepang Moremi is just the fourth PSL player to score a brace in a To8 final; but the first to do this after coming on as a substitute.

Players that scored a brace in an MTN8 final:

• Daniel Mudau (2001)
• Njabulo Manqana (2009)
• Daine Klate (2016)
• Tshepang Moremi (2025)