PIC: Orlando Pirates celebrate with the 2023 Nedbank Cup trophy

The Nedbank Cup returns for a 17th edition in 2024 and remains the only competition in South Africa football that allows amateur players 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 South Africa. 

0 – Mamelodi Sundowns have never lost to opposition from outside the Premiership since the Nedbank Cup was first played in 2008. They have played lower league opponents on 18 occasions since then, and have won every single one of those games outright, scoring 67 goals and conceding only three. Their most famous victory was, of course, the 24-0 win against Powerlines FC in 2012, which remains a South African record. Sundowns let in goals against Carara Kicks (2009), Island FC (2010), Mbombela United (2016) and EC Bees (2018).

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 is the first tactician from Spain to lift the Nedbank Cup. 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 Jose 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. 

3- Orlando Pirates’ victory in the 2023 Nedbank Cup final was their third since 2008, following victories in 2011 and 2014. That is one fewer than the record-holder Mamelodi Sundowns, who have claimed the trophy on four occasions in the last 16 years – 2008, 2015, 2020 and 2022. SuperSport United also have three wins (2012, 2016, 2017). 

4 – Four teams from outside the DStv Premiership 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.

5 – The most played game in the Nedbank Cup since 2008 has been Mamelodi Sundowns against Orlando Pirates. They have met on five occasions, with Sundowns leading the head-to-head 3-2, including in 2021 when they won 4-1. Incredibly, four of the five meetings have been in the quarterfinals!  

6 – Stellenbosch FC forward Iqraam Rayners was the top scorer in the 2023 Nedbank Cup after he netted six times in four games, grabbing braces against Moroka Swallows, TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns. 

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 2024?

6 – There will be at least six debutants in the Nedbank Cup this year. Second-tier NB La Masia will be appearing for the first time, along with lower league sides D’General (Free State), FC Ravens (Eastern Cape), Madridtas (Limpopo), Paarl United (Western Cape) and Spain FC (North West). The entrant from Mpumalanga still must be determined and could add to the list.

6 – The biggest victory in the 2023 Nedbank Cup was the 6-0 win for Sekhukhune United against fourth-tier Liver Brothers. The most goals scored in a single game was nine as Stellenbosch FC won 6-3 at TS Galaxy in an absolute cup epic.

7 – Seven South African coaches have lifted the Nedbank Cup in the last 16 editions – Trott Moloto with Mamelodi Sundowns to 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 Rhulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi last season. 

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! They are appearing in the first round again this year after missing out in 2022.  

9 – There have been nine different winners of the Nedbank Cup in the previous 16 seasons played since 2008. Mamelodi Sundowns (four), SuperSport United (three) and Orlando Pirates (three) have 10 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 nine tournament wins). They are also the only side to lose two finals since Nedbank took over sponsorship in 2008.

10 – Kaizer Chiefs have now gone almost 11 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.   

10 – One of Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United or Mamelodi Sundowns have appeared in 10 of the last 13 Nedbank Cup finals since 2011. Pirates’ five appearances have included three 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 a single defeat to SuperSport in 2012. The only years when one of them did not appear was in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

11 – Stellenbosch FC and Sekhukhune United each managed 11 goals in the 2023 Nedbank Cup, the most by any sides. Champions Orlando Pirates scored nine.

12 – The 16 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 venue to host more than one final is the Orlando Stadium. Other stadiums used are the Johannesburg Stadium, Rand Stadium, Soccer City, Mbombela Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Peter Mokaba Stadium, Cape Town Stadium, Free State Stadium, Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace and Loftus Versfeld 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 nine wins. Mamelodi Sundowns now have six victories, and Moroka Swallows and SuperSport United five each.

14 – The 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 three seasons for Sundowns.

17 – This year will mark the 17th edition of the Nedbank Cup since it was first played in its current guise in 2008. 

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 DStv Premiership clubs, eight sides from the GladAfrica Championship and another eight from the SAFA structures, which could be the ABC Motsepe League (third-tier) or SAB Regional League (fourth-tier).  

55 – Mamelodi Sundowns (55) have played the most matches in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, 10 more than Orlando Pirates (45). They have also won the most matches (41). They have four draws and 10 defeats as well.

96 – There were a total of 96 goals scored in the 31 Nedbank Cup matches last season, a very healthy average of 3.10 per game. That is higher than any other competition in local football in 2022-23!

123 – Mamelodi Sundowns have scored the most goals in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, a whopping 123 in 55 games, well over two per match. Their numbers are boosted by the 24-0 victory over Powerlines FC in 2012. 

2024 – The winner of the Nedbank Cup this year will be entered into the 2024-25 CAF Confederation Cup, where they will fly the country’s flag on the African continent.