PIC: Grant Margeman of SuperSport United is challenged by Somila Ntsundwana of Richards Bay

The Nedbank Cup Last 16 gets under way this week as the remaining sides take another step in their hunt for glory. There are some fascinating match-ups and if the Last 32 is anything to go by, there will be drama aplenty.

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA VS MOROKA SWALLOWS
Wednesday, March 13 – Tuks Stadium (19h00)

High-flying University of Pretoria are on a promotion push from the Motsepe Foundation Championship and are unbeaten in 13 games (W8 D5) in all competitions. By contrast, Moroka Swallows have endured a tough period over the last few months and that has been reflected in their results, with no wins in 12 games (D5 L7) since early November. The momentum would appear to be with the second-tier side. This is a repeat of 2009 final when Swallows edged second-tier AmaTuks 1-0 at the Rand Stadium, and the Students may feel they have a better chance this time round. Quite remarkably, Swallows have not been past the Last 16 since they lifted the trophy 15 years ago, despite having some decent teams over that time. AmaTuks lead the head-to-head between these sides as well, with six wins to four and three draws in 13 past clashes. 

SEKHUKHUNE UNITED VS AMAZULU

Thursday, March 14 – Peter Mokaba Stadium (19h00)
Another tale of the tape between two sides in contrasting form, though as we know cup football is a great leveler and it is how you preform on the day that counts. Sekhukhune United are unbeaten in eight games (W4 D4) in all competitions as they sizzle under coach Lehohonolo Seema and are coming off a thumping 4-1 win away at Swallows over the weekend. AmaZulu have one win in five (D2 L2) and are battling for goals, which could make this a tense affair. Both know the pain of losing finals in this competition, Sekhukhune did so last season while Usuthu have lost all six they have played previously. The Durban club have won the last two meetings between these teams without conceding a goal, though they were both in KwaZulu-Natal. They have a draw and a loss in two away games at Sekhukhune. They last clashed in December when Sede Dion scored in a 1-0 AmaZulu win.

MILFORD FC VS STELLENBOSCH FC

Friday, March 15 – Princess Magogo Stadium (19h00)
Giant-killers Milford FC are still basking over their penalty shoot-out win over Kaizer Chiefs, but have lost both league matches since then to Hungry Lions (1-3) and JDR Stars (0-1), so need to refocus and get back on track. They sit a single place above the relegation zone in the second-tier. Stellenbosch made the semifinals last year and are a team on the up after their Carling Knockout success in December, but also needed penalties to advance from the Last 32, though they should have wrapped up their tie against second-tier Pretoria Callies long before the 120 minutes was up. Stellenbosch are currently on a 16 game (W10 D6) unbeaten run dating back to September, though they have drawn four of their last five games. Milford will do well to repeat their giant-killing act.

RICHARDS BAY VS SUPERSPORT UNITED

Saturday, March 16 – King Zwelithini Stadium (15h00)
Richards Bay produced a surprise 3-1 victory at home against SuperSport United when these sides met in the league on December 30, and will look for a repeat performance this time round against a side who have had a dip in form. SuperSport are winless in seven games (D5 L2) since that defeat and have the unenviable task of a league clash at Tshwane rivals Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday before this Nedbank Cup tie. They will hope for a morale-boosting win, and no injuries and suspensions. Richards Bay have lost two and drawn one of their three league games since they beat Polokwane City 3-2 in the last round. SuperSport needed penalties to see off Cape Town City. Matsatsantsa won 2-0 at home when these sides met earlier in the campaign, meaning these familiar foes will meet for the third time already this campaign. Overall, SuperSport lead the head-to-head 2-1 with a single draw.  

CHIPPA UNITED VS FC RAVENS

Saturday, March 16 – Buffalo City Stadium (15h00)
FC Ravens from the Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League will take aim at topflight Chippa United in a provincial derby in East London, hoping to add to the list of giant-killing acts in the Nedbank Cup. They needed penalties to see off fellow third-tier side Spain FC in the last round, but remain unbeaten in their league campaign after 10 games (W8 D2). That includes a 4-0 win in their last outing against Buch Bucks, which will give them a boost in confidence. Chippa, beaten finalists in 2021, have lost to lower league teams four times before, the last occasion to University of Pretoria in 2022. All of those were in the Last 32. Chippa lost 2-0 at Mamelodi Sundowns at the weekend, but before that were unbeaten in four (W2 D2) in all competitions.

ORLANDO PIRATES VS HUNGRY LIONS

Saturday, March 16 – Orlando Stadium (18h00)
Defending champions Orlando Pirates will still be celebrating their Soweto Derby victory over Kaizer Chiefs this past weekend as they face a potentially tricky Last 16 clash against second-tier Hungry Lions. The Buccaneers have not lost any of their last eight Nedbank Cup clashes outright, since a 4-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2021. That is, in fact, their only defeat inside 120 minutes since 2018. They have another lower league team after they dispatched fourth-tier Crystal Lake 6-0 in the Last 32 this year, though Lions will be an altogether different proposition. The team from the Northern Cape are difficult to beat and will be eager for a major scalp in their bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time. They also have ex-Pirates striker Katlego Cwinyane in their ranks and he will be desperate to prove a point after not making the grade at the topflight club. Lions have also never lost a Nedbank Cup tie outright (W2 D1). They edged JDR Stars 1-0 away from home in the Last 32 this year.  

D’GENERAL VS TS GALAXY

Sunday, March 17 – Free State Stadium (15h00)
D’General from the Free State are currently second in their ABC Motsepe League behind a famous old name in Bloemfontein Celtic. They have played 17 games to date (W9 D7 L1) but were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Dikgosi at the weekend, perhaps with one eye on this plumb Nedbank Cup clash. They will welcome will welcome imposing TS Galaxy, who are finding their groove under coach Sead Ramovic and playing some of the best football in the DStv Premiership. D’General ousted fellow ABC Motsepe League team Madridtas in the previous round and will find this a whole lot tougher against a Galaxy side looking to make up for their final defeat in the Carling Knockout at the end of last year. The Rockets remain the only club to lift the Nedbank Cup as a second tier side, which they achieved in 2019, but have found the going tough on the road this season. They have two wins in 17 away games over the past 13 months and in the league have only managed to score a goal in one of their nine away fixtures.     

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS VS MARITZBURG UNITED

Sunday, March 17 – Lucas Moripe Stadium (18h00)
The team no-one wants to face was Mamelodi Sundowns and it was second-tier Maritzburg United who drew the short straw in that regard. Sundowns have won all 19 games against lower league sides in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, scoring 73 goals and conceding only four. They thumped NB La Masia 6-1 in the Last 32 this year and are unbeaten in 41 games in the South African league, showing their dominance of the domestic scene. They were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup at the quarterfinal stage by Stellenbosch FC last year but have 16 wins in their last 18 games in the competition (D1 L1), scoring 50 goals in the process and conceding 13. Maritzburg, finalists in the Nedbank Cup in 2018, will have their work cut out for them as they look to rebuild having been relegated from the South African topflight last season. Their team looks unrecognisable from that one, but this is a chance to test themselves against an elite club again to see where they are in their development.