PIC: Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch FC met in the 2023 Nedbank Cup quarterfinals

Stellenbosch FC clash with Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday, May 5, the battle between the two form teams in South African football this season.
It should be a mouth-watering contest with a final place on the line and we look at five key factors ahead of the game.  

Unbeaten runs …

Sundowns have not lost a domestic fixture since they were beaten 2-1 by Stellenbosch FC in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup in April 2023. That is a run of 34 games across all domestic competitions without outright defeat. Stellenbosch have not lost a domestic game since they were beaten 3-1 by Sundowns in September 2023, a run of 23 matches. Both are on long unbeaten runs after last losing to each other … 

Four in a row for Stellenbosch

This year’s Nedbank Cup last-4 clash is a fourth semifinal appearance in a row for Stellenbosch across all competitions. They lost in the 2023 Nedbank Cup semis on penalties to Sekhukhune United, and then the 2023 MTN8 to Orlando Pirates on the away goals rule. They defeated Richards Bay in the Carling Knockout semifinals and went on to lift the trophy, and now find themselves in yet another last-4 fixture again.  

Mixed record for Sundowns

Sundowns have played in eight previous Nedbank Cup semifinals since 2008 and won five of them, suffering defeats to AmaZulu (2010), Maritzburg United (2018) and TTM (2021). Two of those losses were via penalties, with only Maritzburg (3-1) winning outright. No other side has more semifinal appearances in that time and to play in nine in 17 seasons, one every other year, is a massive show of consistency from The Brazilians. 

Record has evened up
The teams have met on 11 previous occasions and Sundowns have held sway with seven wins and two draws to go with a pair of victories for Stellenbosch. But the last five clashes since May 2022 have resulted in two wins each and a draw, so things have been much tighter in recent times. Sundowns have not won any of their last three visits to Stellies (D2 L1) since victory in March 2021.

Hectic schedule
The semifinal clash may be next Sunday (May 5), but Sundowns have three games scheduled between now and then. That will mean four games in 10 days, as hectic a schedule as you can imagine. They face Esperance in the second leg of their CAF Champions League semifinal on Friday, before league meetings with TS Galaxy (Monday) and Kaizer Chiefs (Thursday) ahead of their Stellies showdown.