PIC: Jean Lwamba celebrates scoring the winning goal

Durban City striker Jean Lwamba scored at both ends as his side completed a 2-1 victory over TS Galaxy to claim the 2026 Nedbank Cup title at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.

An own goal from Lwamba gave Galaxy a 1-0 half-time lead, but the KwaZulu-Natal side turned it around in the second period as Mfanafuthi Mkhize and Lwamba netted, with City becoming the first club from their province to lift the trophy.

City claimed the Nedbank Cup for the first time in their history, having lost the 2018 decider to Free State Stars when the club still campaigned as Maritzburg United.

It was a reward for their interim coach Pitso Dladla, who won the first major trophy of his career.

Galaxy, who were 2019 winners while still in the second tier, could not repeat that feat in their second final appearance.

Remarkably, the last five Nedbank Cup finals have all ended with 2-1 scorelines, while the four before that all ended 1-0. Before this current run of 2-1 scores, there had never been a final that finished in that manner.

Galaxy’s Victor Letsoalo blazed over at the back post after being set up by Mpho Mvelase in a huge chance for The Rockets midway through the opening period.

Galaxy took the lead in the 43rd minute as Letsoalo's rocket header was only parried by Durban City goalkeeper Darren Keet, and it looked as though City’s Lwamba put the ball into his own net from close range under pressure from Seluleko Mahlambi.

It is not the first time an own goal has been scored in the Nedbank Cup final. Orlando Pirates’ Rooi Mahamutsa put the ball into his own net against Black Leopards in 2011, while Clayton Daniels did likewise for SuperSport United, also against Pirates, in 2016 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. But on both occasions, their teams still came out on top.

Durban City enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half and led on Expected Goals, 0.41 to 0.23, but Galaxy had the only shot on target in what was a cagey opening period.

There was heartbreak for teenage centre-back Mlondi Mncwango when he was forced off with a leg injury early in the second period in what was just his second appearance as a professional. He was replaced by the more experienced MacBeth Mahlangu.

City were level just before the hour-mark when Luphumlo Sifumba’s low cross eluded everybody in the box and reached Mkhize at the back post, and he fired in the equaliser with his side’s first shot on target.

It was just the second goal Galaxy had conceded in this year’s Nedbank Cup, and the second City had scored through one of their own players.

Lwamba made up for his earlier own goal when he netted at the right end with a superb strike after he was fed on the edge of the box by Sifumba, with his finish with the outside of the boot looping over Ira Tape in the Galaxy goal.

This was just the fifth Nedbank Cup final since 2008 that did not feature one of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns. The others were in 2009, as Moroka Swallows beat University of Pretoria; 2010, when BidVest Wits defeated AmaZulu; 2018, as Free State Stars edged Maritzburg United; and 2021, when Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, now Marumo Gallants, defeated Chippa United.

NEDBANK CUP FINAL RESULT

SATURDAY, MAY 2
Durban City 2 (Mkhize 58’, Lwamba 71’) TS Galaxy 1 (Lwamba 43’og)

TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
Matches played: 31
Goals scored: 72

Goals per game: 2.32

Biggest victory: CR Vasco da Gama 4 Luthuli Brigades 1 (Last 32, February 6); TTM 1 Orlando Pirates 4 (Last 32, February 7), Army Rocket 0 Casric Stars 3 (Last 32, February 7); Lamontville Golden Arrows 3 Orbit College 0 (Last 32, February 8), Milford FC 3 Mkhambathi 0 (Last 16, February 22) 

Most goals in a game: 6 – FC Cardinals 2 Jacksa Spears 4 (Last 32, February 7); Siwelele 3 Richards Bay 3 (Last 32, February 8)

GOALSCORERS

2 goals – TJ Diedericks (CR Vasco da Gama), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Victor Letsoalo (TS Galaxy), Lundi Mahala (Richards Bay), Moeti Mofokeng (Jacksa Spears), Thuso Mogale (Casric Stars), Bradley Mojela (Sekhukhune United), Siphosethu Ndlabi (Milford)
1 – Yannick Angoume (Hungry Lions), Decide Chauke (Casric Stars), Andre de Jong (Orlando Pirates), Tauriq Dien (CR Vasco da Gama), Sede Dion (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Taariq Fielies (AmaZulu), Fezile Gcaba (Durban City), Ibraheem Jabaar (Stellenbosch FC), Tshepo Kakora (TS Galaxy), Ofentse Kgosana (Casric Stars), Thokozani Khumalo (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Vuyo Letlapa (Sekhukhune United), Siphelele Luthuli (Siwelele), Jean Lwamba (Durban City), Olerato Mandi (Sekhukhune United), Grant Margeman (Siwelele), Sheldon Mashuge (Jacksa Spears), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), Ayabulela Maxwele (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates), Tonny Mbunga (Milford), Sifiso Mdluli (Milford FC), Sibulele Mekuto (Milford FC), Kgotso Mizi (Cardinals), Ntshuxeko Mkhabela (Luthuli Brigades), Mfanafuthi Mkhize (Durban City), Ntuthuko Mlotshwa (Lerumo Lions), Mpho Moake (Gomora United), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mehluleli Ndelu (Mkhambathi), Sithembiso Ngobe (TTM), Siphamandla Ngwenya (TS Galaxy), Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (AmaZulu), Lebohang Nkaki (Polokwane City), Bongumusa Nkosi (University of Pretoria), Itumeleng Olyn (Jacksa Spears), Michel Phigeland (CR Vasco da Gama), Cheswyn Philander (Milford FC), Bokamoso Seretsi (Jacksa Spears), Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bulelani Sigomoshe (Milford), Flávio Silva (Kaizer Chiefs), Igor Silva (TS Galaxy), Mfundo Thikazi (Casric Stars), Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC), Katleho Tshabalala (Cardinals), Thapelo Tshilo (SSU M17), Angelo van Rooi (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy), Xolani Zondo (Mkhambathi), Sbangani Zulu (Richards Bay)
Own goal – Jean Lwamba (Durban City), Sphamandla Mlilo (Casric Stars), Thabani Zuke (Richards Bay)