PIC: Given Msimango of Kaizer Chiefs is challenged by Siphosethu Ndlabi of Milford FC during the 2024 Nedbank Cup

The 2025 Nedbank Cup gets under way later this month, with 27 of the 32 teams that will enter the first round having appeared in the competition before. That includes six former winners.
The teams that will be making their debut this year are second-tier Kruger United, and third-tier sides Free Agents FC, Lerumo Lions, Mighty Eagles and The Bees FC.
We look back at where the past participants have exited in their previous appearances.

AMAZULU
Usuthu have gone out in the first round in a little under 50% of their appearances but reached the quarterfinals last season. They made the final in 2010 but lost 3-0 to BidVest Wits.

Last 32: 8
Last 16: 4
Quarterfinals: 2
Semifinals: 2
Runners-Up: 1
Winners: 0

BAROKA FC
Baroka famously made the semifinals as a third-tier club in 2011, beating Moroka Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs along the way. They have been back there as a second and a first tier club, but have yet to reach the final. 

Last 32: 3
Last 16: 1
Quarterfinals: 2
Semifinals: 3
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

CAPE TOWN CITY
City have been poor in the Nedbank Cup by their standards, having excelled in other competitions. Can they go past the quarterfinals for the first time this year? To be fair they have had some horror draws and this season are away at in-form Sekhukhune United.

Last 32: 5
Last 16: 1
Quarterfinals: 2
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

CAPE TOWN SPURS

Spurs have exited in the Last 32 in 67% of their appearances, a high percentage for a side that has spent a large part of that time in the topflight. They made the final in 2015 but lost on penalties to Mamelodi Sundowns. 

Last 32: 10
Last 16: 3
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 1
Runners-Up: 1
Winners: 0

CHIPPA UNITED

Chippa were beaten finalists in 2021 and have three other semifinal appearances, including last year. They went out in the first round in their first four Nedbank Cup campaigns, but only once in eight since then.   

Last 32: 5
Last 16: 2
Quarterfinals: 1
Semifinals: 3
Runners-Up: 1
Winners: 0

DURBAN CITY
Now in the second tier, Durban City (formerly Maritzburg United) were beaten finalists in 2018 and have one other semifinal showing from 16 seasons in the Nedbank Cup. They will have hoped for better.

Last 32: 7
Last 16: 4
Quarterfinals: 3
Semifinals: 1
Runners-Up: 1
Winners: 0

HUNGRY LIONS

The second-tier side have appeared twice before in 2020 and 2024 and on both occasions made the second round before bowing out. They were a third-tier team in their maiden season. 

Last 32: 0
Last 16: 2
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0 

KAIZER CHIEFS
Chiefs had been used to success in this competition down the years but have won only once since 2008. They have made the semifinal five times in all but bowed out on three occasions at that stage and have also lost in the final. Their toughest round has been the Last 16, and they have failed to reach the quarterfinals in nine of their previous 17 appearances.

Last 32: 4
Last 16: 5
Quarterfinals: 3
Semifinals: 3
Runners-Up: 1
Winners: 1

LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS

Golden Arrows have gone out at the first hurdle in 53% of their appearances. In fact, they have made the quarterfinals just three times out of 17 Nedbank Cup campaigns and have never reached the final.  

Last 32: 9
Last 16: 5
Quarterfinals: 1
Semifinals: 2
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

MAGESI FC

Magesi first appeared in the competition as a third-tier side in 2013 but are not in the elite league. They have yet to get past the Last 16 in three attempts.

Last 32: 2
Last 16: 1
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS

Sundowns have reached the semifinals or better in 53% of their 17 seasons, lifting the trophy a joint record four times. They know how to go deep in this competition.  

Last 32: 2
Last 16: 2
Quarterfinals: 4
Semifinals: 3
Runners-Up: 2
Winners: 4

MARUMO GALLANTS

Gallants were winners in 2021 as they defeated Chippa United in the final, and also returned to the decider the following year, only to narrowly lose to Sundowns. They have yet to be defeated in the Last 32.

Last 32: 0
Last 16: 2
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 1
Winners: 1

MILFORD FC
Milford FC stunned Kaizer Chiefs in the Last 32 in 2024, winning on penalties before being humbled 6-1 by Stellenbosch FC in the second round. Their only other appearances was in 2016 when they exited in the first round as a third-tier side, going out to provincial rivals Golden Arrows.

Last 32: 1
Last 16: 1
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

MPHENI HOME DEFENDERS

The Limpopo third-tier side have a single previous appearance in 2023, when they lost to Chippa United in the Last 16.

Last 32: 0
Last 16: 1
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

ORLANDO PIRATES 

Pirates have been six-time finalists, winning four of those, including back-to-back triumphs in 2023 and 2024. In 17 previous Nedbank Cup appearances they have gone out in the quarterfinals just twice and never in the semifinals.  

Last 32: 4
Last 16: 5
Quarterfinals: 2
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 2
Winners: 4

POLOKWANE CITY 
Polokwane City have exited in the Last 32 in 67% of their appearances, and not been beyond the quarterfinals, which they have reached twice.

Last 32: 8
Last 16: 2
Quarterfinals: 2
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

PRETORIA CALLIES
Second tier Callies made it all the way to the semifinals in 2021 before losing to Chippa United. On their other appearances they went out in the Last 32, though last year only narrowly on penalties to Stellenbosch.

Last 32: 2
Last 16: 0
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 1
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

RICHARDS BAY

Richards Bay have had some upsets along the way, but now a top-tier team they are a target for others themselves. The furthest they have been is the quarterfinals on one occasion. 
Last 32: 2
Last 16: 3
Quarterfinals: 1
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

ROYAL AM

Royal AM have been to the quarterfinals on three occasions in five appearances and advanced to the semis once.

Last 32: 2
Last 16: 0
Quarterfinals: 2
Semifinals: 1
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

SEKHUKHUNE UNITED

Sekhukhune United were runners-up in 2023, the first time they had been beyond the Last 32 in three attempts. They exited in the second round in 2024 and will be desperate to go one better than their runner-up place two years ago.

Last 32: 2
Last 16: 1
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 1
Winners: 0

SIBANYE GOLDEN STARS

The third-tier side’s only previous appearance came in 2016 when they lost 4-0 to Mbombela United in the Last 32. 

Last 32: 1
Last 16: 0
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

STELLENBOSCH FC 
Stellenbosch were semifinalists in both 2023 and 2024 but before that had gone out in the Last 32 in four of their five previous appearances. They are a side that is maturing fast and could be real contenders this time round.

Last 32: 4
Last 16: 1
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 2
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

SUPERSPORT UNITED
The three-time winners have also exited in the Last 32 in 47% of their Nedbank Cup seasons. They have been to the semifinals or beyond on five occasions, with just a single second round exit.

Last 32: 8
Last 16: 1
Quarterfinals: 3
Semifinals: 1
Runners-Up: 1
Winners: 3

TS GALAXY

History-making Galaxy were winners on debut in 2019 when they still campaigned in the second-tier but have been beyond the second round just once since then, in 2024. 

Last 32: 2
Last 16: 2
Quarterfinals: 1
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 1

UMVOTI
Umvoti have one previous appearance in the competition, which was back in 2019 when they went out to eventual winners TS Galaxy.
Last 32: 1
Last 16: 0
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

VASCO DA GAMA
Vasco made it all the way to the semifinals in 2015, where they lost to eventual winners Sundowns. They later sold their franchise to Stellenbosch FC.

Last 32: 1
Last 16: 2
Quarterfinals: 1
Semifinals: 1
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0

VENDA FOOTBALL ACADEMY

Venda have lost in the Last 16 on both previous appearances in 2022 and 2023, going out to University of Pretoria and Orlando Pirate respectively.

Last 32: 0
Last 16: 2
Quarterfinals: 0
Semifinals: 0
Runners-Up: 0
Winners: 0