Uncommon Penalty Shoot-outs and Unexpected Rivals: Insights and Stats from the Nedbank Cup Final

This match will mark the end of a captivating campaign filled with unexpected twists and impressive records. Below, we present some key statistics and facts surrounding the final of this competition since 2008.

1 – There has only been one Nedbank Cup final that required penalties, which occurred in 2015 when Mamelodi Sundowns faced Ajax Cape Town. The match ended in a 0-0 draw at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with Sundowns winning 4-3 on penalties.

1 – The goal TS Galaxy conceded during their 1-1 semi-final draw with Milford FC was the first they had allowed in the 2026 Nedbank Cup campaign.

1 – TS Galaxy will meet Durban City in the 2026 Nedbank Cup final. Their only previous encounter in the tournament was in 2025, where City, competing as a second-tier team, triumphed 2-1 in the Last 16 stage in Durban.

1 – One of the coaches in this final, either Pitso Dladla from Durban City or Bernard Parker from TS Galaxy, will be celebrating their first major trophy as a manager. Parker, having assumed his role just a week ago, would achieve immediate success. He also has the opportunity to become the first person to lift the Nedbank Cup as both a player and a coach, having scored the winning goal for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2013 final.

2 – Both Durban City and TS Galaxy will be making their second appearance in a Nedbank Cup final, though their journeys thus far have been quite different. Galaxy, as a second-tier team, won 1-0 against Kaizer Chiefs in the 2019 final, becoming the only club from outside the top division to claim the trophy. Meanwhile, Durban City, then known as Maritzburg United, lost 1-0 to Free State Stars in the 2018 final.

2 – This season, eight players are tied at the top of the Nedbank Cup scoring charts with two goals apiece: TJ Diedericks (CR Vasco da Gama), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Victor Letsoalo (TS Galaxy), Lundi Mahala (Richards Bay), Moeti Mofokeng (Jacksa Spears), Thuso Mogale (Casric Stars), Bradley Mojela (Sekhukhune United), and Siphosethu Ndlabi (Milford).

3 – Former Pirates forward Kermit Erasmus leads the scoring tally in Nedbank Cup finals since 2008. He scored during SuperSport United’s victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2012 final and netted twice for Pirates in their 3-1 win against BidVest Wits in 2014. Others who have scored in multiple finals include Jeremy Brockie (SuperSport United), Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United), Thulasizwe Mbuyane (Orlando Pirates), Gaston Sirino (Mamelodi Sundowns/Kaizer Chiefs), and Sifiso Vilakazi (BidVest Wits).

3 – The largest margins of victory in a Nedbank Cup final have been 4-1, achieved by SuperSport United against Pirates in Durban in 2017, and 3-0, when BidVest Wits won against AmaZulu in Johannesburg in 2010. The last eight finals have all been settled by a single goal.

3 – The most significant wins in this year’s Nedbank Cup have all been by a margin of three goals: CR Vasco da Gama defeated Luthuli Brigades 4-1 (Last 32); TTM lost 1-4 to Orlando Pirates (Last 32); Army Rocket fell 0-3 to Casric Stars (Last 32); Lamontville Golden Arrows triumphed 3-0 over Orbit College (Last 32); and Milford FC won 3-0 against Mkhambathi (Last 16).

4 – Interestingly, the last four Nedbank Cup finals have all concluded with a 2-1 scoreline. Prior to that, the four finals before this streak ended with a 1-0 result. The score of 1-0 is the most common in Nedbank Cup finals, with seven finals determined by a single goal.

5 – This final will be the fifth Nedbank Cup final since 2008 that does not feature either Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, or Mamelodi Sundowns. The other instances were in 2009, when Moroka Swallows beat the University of Pretoria; in 2010, when BidVest Wits overcame AmaZulu; in 2018, where Free State Stars got the better of Maritzburg United; and in 2021, when Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (now Marumo Gallants) won against Chippa United.

5 – The Moses Mabhida Stadium has been the venue for the most Nedbank Cup finals, with last year’s match marking its fifth hosting of the event. Chiefs defeated Pirates 2-1 to claim the title. This year’s final will be the second time Peter Mokaba Stadium will be used, while Orlando Stadium and Mbombela Stadium have also hosted multiple finals.

6 – The most goals scored in a single Nedbank Cup match this season is six: FC Cardinals 2-4 Jacksa Spears (Last 32) and Siwelele 3-3 Richards Bay (Last 32).

7 – Pirates made their seventh appearance in a Nedbank Cup final since 2008 last season, setting a record for any team. They have secured four victories, putting them one ahead of Sundowns, who have reached six finals and also won four times. SuperSport United follows with five final appearances, while Chiefs have three.

9 – This year’s finalists, Durban City and Galaxy, have faced each other nine times in all competitions, with City winning six of those matches, alongside two losses and one draw. City has triumphed in their last three encounters, netting six goals in total.

10 – The penalty shoot-out between TS Galaxy and Milford in the semi-finals marked the tenth occasion this year in the Nedbank Cup where penalties were necessary to determine a winner, setting a new competition record, surpassing the previous nine occurrences in 2021. Additionally, fourteen ties this season have progressed to extra time, another record.

69 – A total of 69 goals have been scored in this year’s Nedbank Cup over 30 matches, averaging 2.30 goals per game.

450 – Durban City goalkeeper Darren Keet and defender Siphamandla Ncanana have both logged over 450 minutes in this year’s Nedbank Cup, the highest of any player in the tournament.