Sekhukhune United claimed a convincing 3-1 win over Richards Bay in their Carling Knockout Cup Round of 16 clash at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday evening.
The victory sees Babina Noko join AmaZulu FC, Golden Arrows, and Siwelele FC in the quarterfinals.
FULL TIME! 90' + 4' Babina Noko get the job done securing our spot in the next round of the Carling Knockout! The mission continues, and the warriors march on! SEKHUKHUNE FC3️⃣vs1️⃣RICHARDS BAY FC 🦔🦔🦔 # Adibahlabe # #CarlingKnockout https://t.co/oPnaMBgoXI
— Sekhukhune United F.C. (@SekhukhuneFc) October 25, 2026
The Limpopo outfit will be aiming for a fourth straight win when they travel to face Milford FC in the Betway Premiership on October 31.
The Natal Rich Boys, meanwhile, saw their hopes of a deep cup run shattered as they crashed out of the tournament.
The KZN side will look to bounce back to winning ways under new head coach Dimitar Pantev when they visit Kruger United in the league on October 31.
The main talking point of a dominant first half came in the 42nd minute when Sekhukhune were denied a clear penalty as Ngoanamello Rammala was upended inside the box.
Referee Xola Sitela inexplicably awarded a free-kick outside the area instead, giving Richards Bay a monumental reprieve to keep the contest 0-0 at the break.
However, the hosts deservedly broke the deadlock eight minutes after the restart through their all-time leading marksman, Chibuike Ohizu.
Carved out by a precise setup from Nyiko Mobbie, the Nigerian forward dispatched his maiden goal of the campaign to give Sekhukhune a 1-0 lead.
Chibuike Ohizu 🟢💥 Sekhukhune Utd get the opener in Polokwane 🙌 📺 Stream #CarlingKnockoutCup on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc https://t.co/qL4GXaMBl8
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2026
Coach Papi Zothwane's tactical masterstroke paid dividends in the 83rd minute when substitute Thabang Makubo struck to double Sekhukhune's advantage. Babina Noko immediately suffered a defensive lapse, allowing Nqaba Xulu to pull one back a minute later with his sixth goal of the campaign.
Any lingering tension was decisively extinguished four minutes later when substitute Bethuel Muzeu put the result beyond doubt.
Having already set up Makubo’s earlier strike, the Namibian star turned finisher in the 88th minute, coolly sealing Sekhukhune's 3-1 victory.
Sekhukhune 3 (Ohizu 53', Makubo 83', Muzeu 88')
Richards 1 (Xulu 84')
SEKHUKHUNE: Buthelezi, Matsimbi, Mobbie (Ndlozi 73'), Mkhize, Mcaba (Kazeem 67'), Khupe, Rammala (Makubo 82'), O'Neil, Phiri (Vandala 46'), Mokoena, Ohizu (Muzeu 67')
RICHARDS BAY: Otieno, Mabuya, Makhalala, Mkhabela, Sikhakhane, Gumbi, Ngema (Khumalo 61'), Mthembu (Mahala 83'), Xulu, Zikhali (Sithebe 74'), Nzama (Barns 74')