PIC: Ayanda Jiyane of Royal AM challenges Hendrick Ekstein of AmaZulu

The fixtures are out for the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup with plenty of tasty ties to look forward to. Here is a quick guide to each clash.

LA MASIA VS MAMELODI SUNDOWNS

Feb. 20, 19:00 – Dobsonville Stadium

A clash between debutants NB la Masia from the second-tier and four-time Nedbank Cup winners Mamelodi Sundowns, who will be overwhelming favourites. Not least because Sundowns have won all 17 of their previous clashes against lower league sides since 2008.

SUPERSPORT UNITED VS CAPE TOWN CITY
Feb. 20, 19:00 – Lucas Moripe Stadium
A titanic clash between the sides placed third and second in the DStv Premiership respectively and who are more used to meeting in finals. In recent years they have battled it out in the Telkom Knockout and MTN8 (twice) deciders, though City have yet to get past the quarterfinal stage of the Nedbank Cup. 

HIGHLANDS PARK VS SEKHUKHUNE UNITED

Feb. 21, 19:00 – Dobsonville Stadium
Highlands Park are now a third-tier side after selling their topflight status to TS Galaxy, while last year’s beaten finalists Sekhukhune United will be desperate to go one better. Highlands battled in the Nedbank Cup while in the DStv Premiership, can they spring a surprise here?

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA VS CAPE TOWN SPURS

Feb. 21, 19:00 – Tuks Stadium
Both of these teams have been beaten finalists in the Nedbank Cup without lifting the trophy – second-tier AmaTuks lost to Moroka Swallows in 2009 while Spurs, then known as Ajax Cape Town, were beaten by Sundowns in 2015. The latter have had a rough old season to date but could use the Nedbank Cup to reignite their fortunes. 

AMAZULU VS ROYAL AM

Feb. 22, 19:00 – King Zwelithini Stadium
A KwaZulu-Natal Derby that has the potential to be hugely entertaining. Usuthu have been to six previous finals of this competition in its various guises – including 2010 – and never won, while Royal AM are new kids on the block and were semi-finalists in 2022 before losing to Sundowns. 

LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS VS TS GALAXY

Feb. 23, 19:00 – Mpumalanga Stadium
TS Galaxy famously won the Nedbank Cup as a second-tier side in 2019, the only club in history to achieve that feat. Golden Arrows have never been champions but do have several semi-final finishes. These two clash in a league game five days before this fixture, though that will be at Galaxy’s home. The latter lead the head-to-head 3-1 with four draws.

STELLENBOSCH FC VS PRETORIA CALLIES

Feb. 23, 19:00 – Danie Craven Stadium

Recently crowned Carling Knockout champions Stellenbosch FC host second-tier Pretoria Callies, with both these sides have been recent Nedbank Cup semi-finalists. Callies reached that stage in 2021 but lost to Chippa United, while Stellenbosch were beaten on penalties by Sekhukhune last season. Callies have won only three of their 17 league games to date so need to find some form.

SAFA MPUMALANGA VS ORLANDO PIRATES

Feb. 24, 15:00 – Mbombela Stadium
We don’t know the identity of the SAFA side from Mpumalanga that will take on defending champions Orlando Pirates, but we do know the clash will take place at the iconic Mbombela Stadium with a 15:00 kick-off.

FC RAVENS VS SPAIN FC
Feb. 24, 15:00 – Princess Magogo Stadium  
A battle between two ABC Motsepe League teams, FC Ravens from the Eastern Cape and Spain FC from the North West. With few available stadiums around them, Ravens have moved this game to Durban. One of these third-tier sides will appear in the Last 16.

JDR STARS VS HUNGRY LIONS
Feb. 24, 15:00 – Giant Stadium  
A clash between Motsepe Foundation Championship sides, Lions have already won 2-1 at Stars in the league this season. In fact, in five previous fixtures, Lions have roared to four wins and a single success for Stars, which came back in 2021.

PLATINUM CITY ROVERS VS MOROKA SWALLOWS
Feb. 24, 15:00 – Isak Steyl Stadium  
The 2009 champions Swallows have remarkable not got past the second round since that triumph and will not want to fall at the first hurdle against second-tier City Rovers. There could be much change at The Birds with a squad overhaul so it is difficult to predict their potency in this competition.

RICHARDS BAY VS POLOKWANE CITY

Feb. 24, 18:00 – King Zwelithini Stadium  

A few seasons ago this would have been a second-tier clash but both sides have won promotion to the elite league and will be dreaming of Nedbank Cup glory. City won 1-0 at Richards Bay in October, but the teams clash again in Polokwane on Feb. 14 as a dress rehearsal to their Nedbank Cup tie. The head-to-head is 2-2 with two draws.

MARITZBURG UNITED VS PAARL UNITED

Feb. 25, 15:00 – Princess Magogo Stadium  
Maritzburg reached the Nedbank Cup final in 2018 but lost to Free State Stars in Cape Town and since then have been relegated to the second-tier. They face debutants Paarl United from the Western Cape, who will be something of an unknown quantity. 

NC PROFESSIONALS VS CHIPPA UNITED

Feb. 25, 15:00 – Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium
Northern Cape thirds-tier side NC Professionals are no strangers to the Nedbank Cup as they welcome 2021 beaten finalists Chippa United to Upington. Chippa have slipped up against lower league opponents before, so will be wary of what could be a tough away day. 

D’GENERAL VS MADRIDTAS
Feb. 25, 15:00 – Isak Steyl Stadium  

Another all-ABC Motsepe League tie between Free State side D’General and Madridtas from Limpopo, though this game will be played in Vanderbijlpark. It ensured we will have at least two SAFA teams in the Last 16, with both these sides on debut in the Nedbank Cup.

KAIZER CHIEFS VS MILFORD FC

Feb. 25, 18:00 – FNB Stadium  
Chiefs go in search of a first Nedbank Cup title since 2013 and come up against second-tier Milford FC, who last competed in 2016 as an amateur side. No topflight team has been knocked out more by lower league opponents than Chiefs since 2008, having exited on six occasions to teams below them in the South African football pyramid. Milford lost 2-1 to fellow KZN side Golden Arrows in their only other Nedbank Cup tie.