PIC:  Orlando Pirates celebrate with the 2024 Nedbank Cup trophy

The Nedbank Cup returns for an 18th edition in 2025 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 20 occasions since then, and have won every single one of those games outright, scoring 75 goals and conceding only five. 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. Sundowns let in goals against Carara Kicks (2009), Island FC (2010), Mbombela United (2016), EC Bees (2018) and La Masia (2024).

1 – The 2024 decider was the first Nedbank Cup final since 2008 to feature two of the so-called ‘Big 3’ in South African football, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs. Pirates beat Sundowns 2-1 at the Mbombela Stadium.

1 – Baroka FC are the only third-tier side to reach the Nedbank Cup semi-finals 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 – Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro was the first tactician from Spain to lift the Nedbank Cup, something he has now done two years in a row. Since 2008 there have been seven 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 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 have matched Mamelodi Sundowns, who have also claimed the trophy on four occasions in the last 17 years – 2008, 2015, 2020 and 2022. SuperSport United are next on the list with three wins (2012, 2016, 2017).  

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 – Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi was the leading scorer in the 2024 Nedbank Cup with four goals. He got one in the first round 6-0 victory over fourth tier Crystal Lake, two against AmaZulu in the quarterfinals and then netted The Buccaneers’ first goal in their 2-1 final win over Mamelodi Sundowns.

4 – There will be four debutants in the Nedbank Cup this year. They are all from the SAFA structures and include ABC Motsepe League clubs Free Agents FC (Gauteng), Lerumo Lions (North West), Mighty Eagles (Eastern Cape) and The Bees FC (Mpumalanga).

6 – The most played game in the Nedbank Cup since 2008 has been Mamelodi Sundowns against Orlando Pirates … and that was the final again in 2024. They have met on six occasions, with Pirates leading the head-to-head 4-2, including last year’s 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 2025?  

6 – The biggest victory in the 2024 Nedbank Cup was the 6-0 win for eventual winners Orlando Pirates against fourth-tier Crystal Lake. It was the second year in a row that a lower league team from Mpumalanga was on the receiving end of the biggest loss after Sekhukhune United defeated Liver Brothers by the same scoreline in 2023. 

7 – Seven South African coaches have lifted the Nedbank Cup in the last 17 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 Mamelodi 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 – 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! The second-tier club are appearing in the first round again this year … having booked their place with a penalty shoot-out win over Black Leopards FC in the preliminary round!

9 – There have been nine different winners of the Nedbank Cup in the previous 17 seasons played since 2008. Mamelodi Sundowns (four), Orlando Pirates (four) and SuperSport United (three) have 11 wins between them, with Moroka Swallows, BidVest Wits, Kaizer Chiefs, Free State Stars, TS Galaxy and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila the are other victors.   

9 – Orlando Pirates hold the record for the most runner-up finishes in the history of the Nedbank Cup competition since 1971 with nine (to go with 10 tournament wins). Along with Mamelodi Sundowns, they are also the only side to lose two finals since Nedbank took over sponsorship of the competition in 2008.

10 – Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is still unbeaten after 10 games in the Nedbank Cup, having not lost a tie since he arrived at the club at the start of the 2022/23 season. He has won nine and drawn one of his 10 games. 

11 – One of Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United or Mamelodi Sundowns have appeared in 11 of the last 14 Nedbank Cup finals since 2011. Pirates’ six appearances have included four wins and two defeats, both to SuperSport. 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 – Kaizer Chiefs have now gone almost 12 years without lifting the Nedbank Cup title, their longest run without success since the competition was first played in 1971. Their previous longest barren run was six years, between 1993 and 1999 (tournament not played in 1997), and 2007 and 2012. They last claimed victory in 2013, but did make the final in 2019, only to lose 1-0 to second-tier TS Galaxy.   

12 – The 17 previous Nedbank Cup finals since 2008 have been played at 12 different venues, with Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium staging four 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.  

13 – 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 13 titles, with Orlando Pirates next on the list with 10 wins, but closing in fast. 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 since 2020 when he netted three for Highlands Park before his move to Chloorkop. He has a further 11 goals in the last four seasons for Sundowns, though he was not on the scoresheet in the previous campaign.

18 – This year will mark the 18th edition of the Nedbank Cup since it was first played in its current guise in 2008. 

19 – Orlando Pirates scored 19 goals in their five matches in the 2024 Nedbank Cup competition, the most of any side. They beat Crystal Lake (6-0), Hungry Lions (4-0), AmaZulu (4-2), Chippa United (3-1) and Mamelodi Sundowns (2-1).

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).  

60 – Mamelodi Sundowns (60) have played the most matches in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, 10 more than Orlando Pirates (50). They have also won the most matches (44). They have five draws and 11 defeats as well.

92 – There were 92 goals scored in the 31 Nedbank Cup games in 2024. That is an average of a touch under three per game.

135 – Mamelodi Sundowns have scored the most goals in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, a whopping 135 in 60 games, well over two per match. Their numbers are boosted by the 24-0 victory over Powerlines FC in 2012. 

2025 – The winner of the Nedbank Cup this year will be entered into the 2025-26 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, the place 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 – Orlando Pirates collected a R7-million first prize for their victory in the 2024 Nedbank Cup.