The Nedbank Cup returns for a 19th edition in 2026 and remains the only competition in South Africa football that gives amateur players the platform to live their dreams and test themselves against the country’s best.
We round up the numbers from what is the most prestigious knockout competition in domestic football.
0 – Mamelodi Sundowns have never lost to opposition from outside the topflight since the Nedbank Cup was first played in 2008. They have played lower league opponents on 23 occasions since then and have won all but one of those games outright, scoring 83 goals and conceding only eight.
They did need penalties to advance past University of Pretoria following a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals in 2024. Their most famous victory was, of course, the 24-0 win against Powerlines FC in 2012, which remains a South African record margin of victory.
1 – The 2025 decider was the first Nedbank Cup final since 2008 to feature both Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Chiefs won 2-1. It was also only the second to feature two of the so-called ‘Big 3’ in South African football, Chiefs, Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns. Pirates beat Sundowns 2-1 at the Mbombela Stadium in 2024.
1 – Baroka FC are the only third-tier side to reach the Nedbank Cup semifinals after they achieved that feat in 2011, beating Moroka Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs on their way to the Last 4. They were eventually edged on penalties by second-tier Black Leopards.
1 – Vaal University of Technology became the first ever side from South African football’s fourth tier to oust Premiership opposition when they defeated Lamontville Golden Arrows on penalties following a 2-2 draw in their Last 32 clash in 2020. They lost 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the next round.
1 – Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nani was the first tactician from Tunisia to lift the Nedbank Cup when he guided his side to the title in 2025. Since 2008 there have been eight different foreign coaches to have claimed victory – Julio Cesar Leal (Brazil), Ruud Krol (Netherlands), Stuart Baxter (England), Vladimir Vermezovic (Serbia), Luc Eymael (Belgium), Dylan Kerr (England) and Jose Riveiro (Spain).
2 – Third-tier Dondol Stars pulled off two remarkable giant-killing acts in 2023 … and almost claimed a third! They ousted topflight SuperSport United and AmaZulu in the first two rounds, and then were edged on penalties by eventual champions Orlando Pirates. But it was one of the great runs from a lower league side in Nedbank Cup history.
3 – Former Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter has won the Nedbank Cup on more occasions since 2008 than any other tactician. His three titles came with Chiefs in 2013, and then back-to-back successes with SuperSport in 2016 and 2017. Overall, former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane also has three titles after wins in 2005 (with SuperSport), and 2015 and 2020 with The Brazilians.
4 – Orlando Pirates’ victory in the 2024 Nedbank Cup final was their fourth since 2008, following victories in 2011, 2014 and 2023. They matched Mamelodi Sundowns, who have also claimed the trophy on four occasions in the last 18 years –2008, 2015, 2020 and 2022. SuperSport United are next on the list with three wins (2012, 2016, 2017). Current champions Kaizer Chiefs have two wins (2013, 2025)
4 – Four teams from outside the topflight have reached the final of the Nedbank Cup since 2008, with one of those, TS Galaxy, going on to lift the trophy. Mpumalanga Black Aces lost 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the first year, while in 2009 University of Pretoria went down by the same scoreline to Moroka Swallows.
And two years after that, in 2011, Black Leopards were in the decider but lost 3-1 to Orlando Pirates. But Galaxy made history by beating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in the final in 2019.
4 – The last four Nedbank Cup finals have all finished with a 2-1 scoreline. Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Marumo Gallants in 2022, before Orlando Pirates claimed back-to-back wins over Sekhukhune United (2023) and Sundowns (2024). Kaizer Chiefs then defeated Pirates 2-1 in the 2025 decider. Remarkably, the four finals before that (2018-2021) all finished 1-0.
4 – Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates) and Pule Mmodi (Kaizer Chiefs) finished as the leading scorers in in the 2025 Nedbank Cup with four goals each. Mabasa has since moved on loan to Stellenbosch FC.
6 – The most played game in the Nedbank Cup since 2008 has been Mamelodi Sundowns against Orlando Pirates, the last being the final in 2024. They have met on six occasions, with Pirates leading the head-to-head 4-2, including the 2024 decider where they won 2-1. Four of the six meetings have been in the quarterfinals.
6 – AmaZulu have appeared in six finals of the Nedbank Cup competition dating back to its start in 1971 … and never won! They have tasted only defeat in the decider, the last time in 2010 when they were beaten 3-0 by BidVest Wits. Will it finally be their year in 2026?
7 – The biggest victory in the 2025 Nedbank Cup was a 7-0 win for TS Galaxy against third-tier CR Vasco da Gama. That was both Vasco’s heaviest defeat in the Nedbank Cup and the record win in all competitions for 2019 Nedbank Cup winners Galaxy.
7 – Seven South African coaches have lifted the Nedbank Cup in the last 18 editions –Trott Moloto with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2008, Roger de Sa with BidVest Wits in 2010, Gavin Hunt with SuperSport United in 2012, Pitso Mosimane with Sundowns in 2015 and 2020, Dan Malesela with TS Galaxy in 2019, and the co-coaching duo of Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi with Sundowns in 2022.
8 – There will be eight debutants in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 this year. Teams from the SAFA structures to compete for the first time are Army Rockets FC, SSU M-17 FC, Luthuli Brigades and FC Cardinals, while Motsepe Foundation Championship clubs Highbury FC, Upington City and Gomora United also make their bow. Then there is Siwelele from the Betway Premiership in their debut season.
8 – Cape Town Spurs, who were formerly known as Ajax Cape Town, have been involved in the most penalty shoot-outs in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, with eight. They have won only two of those and lost six. Orlando Pirates are second on the list with seven shoot-outs (W3 L4).
9 – There have been nine different winners of the Nedbank Cup in the previous 18 seasons played since 2008. Mamelodi Sundowns (four), Orlando Pirates (four) and SuperSport United (three) have 11 wins between them, with Kaizer Chiefs (two), Moroka Swallows, BidVest Wits, Free State Stars, TS Galaxy and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (now Marumo Gallants) the are other victors.
10 – Orlando Pirates hold the record for the most runner-up finishes in the history of the Nedbank Cup competition since 1971 with 10 (to go with 10 tournament wins). They are also the only side to lose three finals since Nedbank took over sponsorship of the competition in 2008.
12 – At least one of Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United or Mamelodi Sundowns have appeared in 12 of the last 15 Nedbank Cup finals since 2011. Pirates’ seven appearances have included four wins and three defeats. Matsatsantsa have won three of their four final appearances in that time, losing out to Kaizer Chiefs in 2013.
Sundowns also have four wins to go with two defeats to SuperSport in 2012 and Pirates in 2024. The only years where one of the trio did not appear were 2018, 2019 and 2021.
12 – The 18 previous Nedbank Cup finals since 2008 have been played at 12 different venues, with Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium staging five deciders. The only other venues to host more than one final are the Orlando Stadium and Mbombela Stadium.
Other venues used are the Johannesburg Stadium, Rand Stadium, Soccer City, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Peter Mokaba Stadium, Cape Town Stadium, Free State Stadium, Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace and Loftus Stadium.
14 – Kaizer Chiefs scored 14 goals in their five matches in the 2025 Nedbank Cup competition, the most of any side. They beat Free Agents FC (4-0), Chippa United (3-0), Stellenbosch FC (3-1), Mamelodi Sundowns (2-1) and Orlando Pirates (2-1).
14 – Kaizer Chiefs have won the trophy the most times if you include all the years of the Nedbank Cup competition dating back to 1971. They have 14 titles, with Orlando Pirates next on the list with 10 wins. Mamelodi Sundowns have six victories, and Moroka Swallows and SuperSport United five each.
14 – The all-time leading scorer in the Nedbank Cup since 2008 is Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile, who has netted 14 times for The Brazilians and Highlands Park.
Quite remarkably, all of his goals have come between 2020 and 2023, initially netting three for Highlands Park before his move to Chloorkop. He has a further 11 goals in the last five seasons for Sundowns, though he has not netted in the competition since March 2023.
19 – This year will mark the 19th edition of the Nedbank Cup since it was first played in its current guise in 2008.
19 – Orlando Pirates teenager Relebohile Mofokeng became the youngest ever Nedbank Cup final goalscorer when he netted his stunning winner against Mamelodi Sundowns in 2024. He was 19 years, 7 months and 10 days.
24 – The most goals scored in the Nedbank Cup, or any professional game in South Africa for that matter, was the 24-0 hammering by Mamelodi Sundowns against Northern Cape fourth-tier side Powerlines FC in 2012. Sundowns led 10-0 at the break but ‘turned it on’ in the second period.
32 – There are 32 teams that take part in the Nedbank Cup – all 16 Betway Premiership clubs, eight sides from the Motsepe Foundation Championship and another eight from the SAFA structures, which could be the ABC Motsepe League (third-tier) or SAB Regional League (fourth-tier).
64 – Mamelodi Sundowns (64) have played the most matches in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, nine more than Orlando Pirates (55). They have also won the most matches (47). They have five draws and 12 defeats as well.
90 – There were 90 goals scored in 30 matches in the 2025 Nedbank Cup, exactly three per game, which is a very healthy average.
144 – Mamelodi Sundowns have scored the most goals in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, a whopping 144 in 64 games, well over two per match. Their numbers are boosted by the 24-0 victory over Powerlines FC in 2012.
2026 – The winner of the Nedbank Cup this year will be entered into the 2026-27 CAF Confederation Cup, where they will fly the country’s flag on the African continent. Should they have already qualified for the CAF Champions League via their league placing, the slot in the Confederation Cup will go to the Nedbank Cup runner-up.
If both clubs have qualified for the Champions League (as happened in 2024 with Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates), then the slot goes to the team that finishes fourth in the Betway Premiership.
7 000 000 – Kaizer Chiefs collected a R7-million first prize for their victory in the 2025 Nedbank Cup final. Runners-up Orlando Pirates took home R2.5-million.