Orlando Pirates were crowned Betway Premiership champions after securing a 2-0 victory over Orbit College at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers finished one point ahead of runners-up Mamelodi Sundowns, ending a 14-year league title drought. The Soweto giants claimed their fifth PSL Premiership title and will now head into next season’s CAF Champions League with renewed confidence.
Mswenko Boys, on the other hand, were relegated from the Betway Premiership after finishing 16th. The North West Province side will campaign in the Motsepe Foundation Championship next season, hoping for a quick return to the top flight.
𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 #𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐌 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🏴☠️🏆
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 23, 2026
They win the South African league title for a fifth time in the PSL era 🇿🇦🔥#SSDiski | #SSFootball pic.twitter.com/j6DPckM8QE
Mswenko Boys were under pressure from the very first minute, as Bucs dominated proceedings and created several clear-cut chances. The best opportunity fell to Tshepang Moremi in the 33rd minute, but with only goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo to beat, he ballooned his shot hopelessly over the crossbar.
The pressure eventually told as Orbit cracked. In a moment of madness, Nkomo punched the ball into his own net under pressure from Thalente Mbatha, gifting Pirates a 1-0 lead at halftime — and leaving Mswenko Boys with a mountain to climb.
𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 🚨
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 23, 2026
Orlando Pirates move to the top of the #BetwayPrem 🏆
📺 Stream on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/WOMAtFgzTN
The Buccaneers picked up exactly where they left off after the interval and continued to pile on the pressure. The hosts conceded yet another own-goal, this time through Ndumiso Ngiba, who turned the ball into his own net to make it 2-0 to Pirates in the 50th minute.
The goal sent the delighted Bucs fans into wild celebrations inside the iconic 2010 FIFA World Cup venue. The Buccaneers had the momentum in the closing stages, but they couldn’t take their chances. Mswenko Boys rarely threatened, and ultimately Pirates emerged as 2-0 winners.
Orbit 0
Pirates (1) 2 (Nkomo 45'+5 og, Ngiba 50' og)
Orbit: Nkomo, Setlhodi (Vilakazi 55'), Mkhize, Mgeshane, Ngiba, Potsana (Mariko 55'), Noyo, Disemelo, Masangane (Khoto 58'), Wagaba (Malatsi 55'), Modimoeng (Mabele 55')
Pirates: Chaine, Sibisi, Seema, Sebelebele, Ndaba (Hotto 83'), Selepe, Mbatha (Mariko 70'), Moremi (Maswanganyi 60'), Mofokeng, Appollis (Dansin 83'), Mbuthuma (Makgopa 70')