As excitement mounts for the thrilling 2025 Nedbank Cup final between Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban this Saturday, the stage is set for an epic clash of titans.
This year’s final is particularly significant, as it’s the first time these fierce rivals will face off for the prestigious trophy since the tournament’s inception in 2008.
Ahead of this highly anticipated showdown, SBN takes a look back at the last five unforgettable Nedbank Cup finals.
2020 – Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Bloemfontein Celtic
The 2020 Nedbank Cup final was played against the backdrop of an unprecedented five-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually staged on September 12th, a staggering 220 days after the tournament commenced, Mamelodi Sundowns finally ended their five-year wait for the title.
They edged out first-time finalists Bloemfontein Celtic with a solitary, stunning strike from Gaston Sirino in the 80th minute. The eerie silence of an empty Orlando Stadium, devoid of the passionate roar of fans, underscored the unique circumstances of this final.
2021 – TTM 1-0 Chippa United
The 2021 final delivered a major surprise as (the now defunct) Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, a club that would later transform into Marumo Gallants, defied expectations to lift the Nedbank Cup under the guidance of coach Dylan Kerr.
The hero of the day was Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, whose deflected shot proved to be the decisive goal against Chippa United. Interestingly, Ndlondlo, now a player for Orlando Pirates, will undoubtedly be dreaming of a repeat performance in this year’s final, albeit in different colours.
2022 – Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 Marumo Gallants (AET)
Mamelodi Sundowns reclaimed the Nedbank Cup crown in a hard-fought final against the defending champions, Marumo Gallants, at the Free State Stadium. Peter Shalulile put Sundowns ahead just after the half-hour mark, but the resilient Limpopo outfit, through their Ivorian forward Sede Dion, managed to level the score.
The game appeared destined for a penalty shootout until Thapelo Morena struck a dramatic 120th-minute winner for Masandawana. Adding to the drama, the previous year’s final hero for Gallants, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, saw red after receiving two yellow cards.
2023 – Orlando Pirates 2-1 Sekhukhune United
The 2023 final marked Orlando Pirates’ triumphant return to Nedbank Cup glory after a nine-year drought. They overcame Sekhukhune United in a thrilling encounter played in front of a packed Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. It was a particularly significant moment for their Spanish coach, Jose Riveiro, who etched his name in history as the first tactician from Spain to lift the coveted trophy.
Sibusiso Vilakazi had given Sekhukhune the lead in the first half, but Tapelo Xoki equalized for Pirates from the penalty spot. Just when extra time seemed inevitable, Terrence Dzvukamanja popped up with a dramatic 95th-minute winner, sending the Buccaneers’ faithful into raptures.
2024 – Orlando Pirates 2-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Orlando Pirates cemented their dominance in the Nedbank Cup by securing back-to-back titles with a hard-fought victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the final held at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga. Coach Jose Riveiro achieved a rare feat, becoming the first coach since Stuart Baxter (in 2016 and 2017) to retain the Nedbank Cup.
However, Pirates had to come from behind after Themba Zwane put Sundowns ahead in the 54th minute. The Buccaneers rallied, with Patrick Maswanganyi converting a penalty with just under 20 minutes remaining. The decisive moment arrived in the dying moments of the game when teenager Relebohile Mofokeng, then just 19 years old, scored a stunning injury-time winner, becoming the youngest player to ever score in a Nedbank Cup final.