Winners & Losers_ MTN8 Semi-Finals 

Pirates came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Sundowns, and force a penalty shootout. Later, Stellenbosch also drew by the same result, adding to their 2-0 first leg win to progress 3-1 on aggregate. Winners & Losers is a statistical review of the weekend action.

Winners

Orlando Pirates’ Top8 Affinity

Winners simply for reaching yet another Cup final. This is now their 11th Top 8 final (BP/SAA/MTN8), the most of all teams in the PSL era, and they have also set a new record in the overall 50-year history of the competition.

4 – Pirates are the first team in the 50-year history of the competition to reach four consecutive finals.

Abseslam Ouaddou

Abdeslam Ouaddou will be proud of how the team has fought back on both occasions. If anyone still had doubts on whether the players are willing to fight for him, back-to-back comebacks from a goal down against Sundowns should provide some answers.

4 – Pirates have knocked Sundowns out at this stage of this competition four times in the PSL era, more than any other team.

Kamogelo Sebelebele

The departure of both Monnapule Saleng (loan) and Mohau Nkota (overseas move) had left many Pirates fans wondering how their contributions would be replaced. For Saleng, the question is more poignant given how much he enjoyed this competition.

1 – Sebelebele is the first-ever Pirates player to score in both legs of a two-legged MTN8 semi-final.

Stellenbosch

Their league form has not been great at the start of the season, but their Cup form will be the confidence booster they may need.

100% – In MTN8 history, every team that won the first leg of the semi-finals has subsequently progressed to the final (16 occasions).

Steve Barker

In the first three years since their 2019 promotion, Stellenbosch competed in five Cuo competitions and were knocked out of the first round in all of them. In the last two years, they have played 10 Cup competitions and reached the final in eight of them.

Mthetheleni Mthiyane

In the first three years since their 2019 promotion, Stellenbosch competed in five Cuo competitions and were knocked out of the first round in all of them. In the last two years, they have played 10 Cup competitions and reached the final in eight of them.

Losers

Sundowns’ mentality

On 1 June 2024, Sundowns met Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final. Themba Zwane opened the scoring early in the second half and set them on their way. 20 minutes from the trophy, they allowed Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng goals to turn the tie in Pirates favour. Downs lost that final after failing to capitalise on their early advantage.

Fourten months later, a dozen steps forward and a dozen steps back later, they still find themselves following the exact same pattern in crucial moments:

• 2024 Carling Cup final: scored first and lost
• 2025 Nedbank semi-final: scored first and lost
• 2025 Champions League final 1st leg: scored first and drew at home (lost overall tie)
• 2025 MTN8 semi-finals: scored first and drew home & away (lost overall tie)

For a team that dominates the league with ease, it is strange to witness them so fragile in key moments. Often a combination of defensive mistakes and tactical shortcomings have left victory uncertain until the final whistle. Opponents know they always have a chance.

1 – Sundowns have won just one of their last 12 matches in the semi-final stages or later in Cup competitions (D5 L6 within 90 minutes).