Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Orlando Pirates • Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban • Saturday, 10 October 2026
It was a clash of cup specialists: Mamelodi Sundowns, the continental cup specialists and current CAF Champions League holders, against Orlando Pirates, the Kings of South African cup football. In the end the continental specialists got the better of the domestic kings. Sundowns ended Pirates’ four-year grip on the MTN8 with a 2-0 victory in Durban, claiming the trophy for the first time since 2021 and for the fifth time overall. Teboho Mokoena struck early, Ronwen Williams saved a decisive second-half penalty, and Iqraam Rayners converted from the spot deep in stoppage time to seal it.
Specialists Against Kings
Pirates arrived as the cup kings, having won this competition four years running and chasing a record fifth. Sundowns arrived with the continental pedigree, and a point to prove in a domestic knockout trophy that had eluded them since 2021. Cardoso’s side showed that the big-match composure that wins on the African stage travels well at home.
How the Final Unfolded
Pirates, chasing a record fifth successive MTN8 crown, started the brighter side but could not turn their early pressure into chances. Sundowns punished them in the 11th minute: after Pirates failed to deal with a dipping ball into the box, Mokoena was on hand to beat Sipho Chaine from close range.
The rest of the half was end to end. Chaine kept Pirates in the contest with a point-blank stop to deny Thapelo Morena, then produced two quick saves to frustrate Brayan León and Nuno Santos. At the other end, Williams did well to deny Lungu from a tight angle, and Sundowns went into the break 1-0 up.
The pivotal moment came in the 62nd minute, when Pirates were awarded a penalty with a golden chance to level. Lungu stepped up, but Williams dived to his left and pushed the kick onto the post and away. Pirates pressed for an equaliser, with substitute Simphiwe Masilela twice going close, but Williams stood firm. With Pirates committed forward, a late foul in the box gave Sundowns a penalty, and Rayners sent Chaine the wrong way in the 94th minute to settle matters.
Key Moments
| Min | Player | Event | Detail |
| 11′ | Mokoena | Sundowns (0-1) | Close-range finish from a set-piece, beating Chaine |
| 62′ | Lungu (missed) | Pirates penalty | Williams saves, pushing the kick onto the post and away |
| 90+4′ | Rayners | Sundowns (0-2) | Penalty, sent past Chaine to seal the title |
Goalkeepers Steal the Show
The headline of the night was the standard between the sticks. Williams and Chaine, the Bafana Bafana number one and number two, traded saves of the highest quality throughout. Chaine’s reflexes kept the scoreline respectable and gave Pirates a platform to fight back, while Williams’ penalty stop, plus his work in the closing stages, was the difference between a two-goal win and a nervy finish.
Tashreeq Matthews took the man-of-the-match award for Sundowns, and the strong defensive structures on show underlined the quality running through the South African game.
What It Means
- For Sundowns: proof that the continental specialists can also conquer the domestic cup stage: a first MTN8 title since 2021 and another trophy for coach Miguel Cardoso, who has now delivered the league, the CAF Champions League and the MTN8.
- For Pirates: the end of an unprecedented run of four straight MTN8 titles for the Kings of Cups, though the performance showed they remain a formidable cup side.
- For Bafana Bafana: the best news of all. With the first- and second-choice goalkeepers both in outstanding form, and two sturdy defences in front of them, coach Pitso Mosimane has real depth to lean on.
Atmosphere
Played under lights at Moses Mabhida, the final had everything: wizardry on the ball, two penalties, last-ditch saves and a crowd that kept the noise up from first whistle to last. It was a showcase of what South African club football can offer, and a fitting stage for the continent’s champions to finally reclaim a trophy that had eluded them for five years.
