Kaizer Chiefs failed to qualify for the MTN8 after a 0-0 draw with Polokwane City at the FNB Stadium on Saturday was not enough to secure a top-eight finish in the Betway Premiership.
Nasreddine Nabi's side needed victory on the final day of the season to ensure they would not have to rely on results elsewhere, having gone into the match level with Chippa United (8th) on 31 points in ninth place.
However, Richards Bay pipped them to eighth spot courtesy of a 2-0 win over SuperSport United which meant that Amakhosi missed out on the Wafa Wafa competition for the second year running.
Polokwane City get a point to secure #MTN8 football ✅⚽#SSDiski | #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/lGWnD8Tu6p
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 24, 2025
Both teams were looking to finish the campaign on a positive note, with the Glamour Boys winless in their last eight games after drawing 2-2 at Sekhukhune United on 17 May, while Polokwane had picked up just two points from their last five matches and suffered a 2-0 defeat to Cape Town City most recently.
The hosts bossed possession in the first half and came closest to breaking the deadlock, but luck was not on their side as the woodwork denied them on two occasions.
Dillon Solomons saw his shot come back off the post on 20 minutes and Brian Bwire did well to keep the ball out when Chiefs reacted fastest to the rebound.
The Soweto giants went close again five minutes before half time from a free-kick which found its way to Edmilson Dove, whose header brushed the top of the crossbar.
Nabi opted to make his first change moments later in a bid to get that all-important first goal, with the ineffective Tashreeq Morris making way for Ashley Du Preez.
Chiefs continued to enjoy the lion's share of the possession in the second half, although the Limpopo outfit made a bright start and Bonginkosi Dlamini should have opened the scoring after being set up by Ndamulelo Maphangule, only to make a hash of his chance.
Du Preez had a sniff at goal after advancing into the area from the right, but he failed to beat Bwire from a tight angle.
The Nedbank Cup champions piled on the pressure in the closing stages, but lacked the final product and had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Polokwane City (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs: B. Petersen, I. Miguel, E. Dove, B. Cross, D. Solomons, S. Mthethwa (R. Chivaviro 78'), Y. Maart, M. Lilepo, M. Shabalala (G. Sirino 71'), W. Duba (M. Vilakazi 46'), T. Morris (A. Du Preez 41').
Polokwane City: B. Bwire, S. Manthosi, B. Nikani, L. Nkaki, L. Ndlovu, M. Ramabu, M. Kambala, N. Maphangule, B. Dlamini, N. Raphadu, T. Letshedi (M. Batlhabane 81').