Orlando Pirates will face Motsepe Foundation Championship high-flyers Casric Stars in the Last 16 of the Nedbank Cup, while Mamelodi Sundowns face a tough away day at fellow top-flight side TS Galaxy after the draw was concluded on Wednesday.
The round is scheduled to be played from 21-24 February, with the PSL to confirm the exact dates, venues and kick-off times in due course.
Pirates are hoping to make history by becoming the first side to reach the Nedbank Cup final for the fourth year in a row, having won in 2023 and 2024 before a painful loss to Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs in last season’s decider.
Stars will be confident of springing a surprise though as they push for promotion to the Betway Premiership and this will be a huge test of their quad.
Galaxy have enjoyed some success against Sundowns recently, winning when they met in the league a year ago.
But overall Sundowns lead the head-to-head 8-2, with two draws. However, the Brazilians have not won on their last three visits to Mpumalanga province (D2 L1).
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: The #NedbankCup Round of 16 draw is complete 🇿🇦🏆
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 11, 2026
Venue, dates and kick-off times to be confirmed ⚽#SSDiski | #SSFootball pic.twitter.com/YEYAbnNFaB
KZN DERBIES
There is an all-KwaZulu-Natal derby between second-tier leaders Milford FC and third-tier Mkhambathi FC, who have reached this stage for the first time.
The latter defeated another second-tier outfit in Lerumo Lions to book their Last 16 place.
Another KZN derby sees Richards Bay host AmaZulu. This will be a first-ever cup clash between the sides, with Richards Bay edging the head-to-head 3-2, with two draws. Usuthu have won two of the last three clashes though.
TOP-FLIGHT CLASH
There is an all-top-flight clash between two wily old coaches in Lamontville Golden Arrows’ Manqoba Mngqithi and Gavin Hunt of Stellenbosch FC.
The Winelands club ousted Kaizer Chiefs at home in the previous round, while Abafana Bes’thende had a 3-0 win over Orbit College in a fixture played over two days after the original match was abandoned due to weather.
University of Pretoria will host Sekhukhune United in a clash between two sides who were Motsepe Foundation Championship rivals in the 2020/21 season before Sekhukhune won promotion.
Both their fixtures that season ended in draws.
ONE THIRD-TIER SIDE GUARANTEED A QF SPOT
The tie between Jacksa Spears and CR Vasco Da Gama ensures there will be at least one third-tier side in the quarterfinals for just the fourth time in Nedbank Cup history.
The other amateur sides to reach the last eight were Baroka FC (2011), Summerfield Dynamos (2022) and Dondol Stars (2023).
Second-tier Upington City and topflight Durban City clash, but they do have some recent history. The teams met in the Motsepe Foundation Championship last season before the Durban club’s promotion, with City winning both matches.
NEDBANK CUP LAST 16 DRAW
Milford FC v Mkhambathi FC
Lamontville Golden Arrows v Stellenbosch FC
University of Pretoria v Sekhukhune United
Jacksa Spears v CR Vasco da Gama
TS Galaxy v Mamelodi Sundowns
Upington City v Durban City
Richards Bay v AmaZulu
Orlando Pirates v Casric Stars