Orlando Pirates will resume their Nedbank Cup journey this Saturday as they host Baroka FC at Orlando Stadium.
The Soweto Giants are still recovering from a heavy defeat at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend, a result that left them with much to ponder
A wounded beast
Orlando Pirates will continue their quest to defend the Nedbank Cup when they face Baroka FC in a Last 16 encounter at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
The Buccaneers’ momentum was disrupted last weekend when they suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in a high-stakes top-of-the-table Betway Premiership clash. The loss brought an end to Pirates’ impressive five-match unbeaten run across all competitions, leaving them with plenty to reflect on. Despite the setback, the team has swiftly refocused their attention to the Nedbank Cup, where they are determined to maintain their dominant run.
Having claimed back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, Pirates are now aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive victory in South Africa’s prestigious cup competition. The team’s resolve remains strong, and with a title defence on the line, coach José Riveiro and his players will be eager to put their league disappointment behind them and push forward in pursuit of more silverware.
The Limpopo side’s hope of slaying Pirates is not promising, given their recent performances as of late, they were thrashed by Venda Football Academy and that was followed by a 1-1 draw against Pretoria University. Their best runs in the Nedbank Cup came in 2016 and 2020, when they reached the semifinals, and they will be eager to push even further this season.
How to watch
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 15:00 on Saturday, 15 February and will be carried live on the public broadcaster’s radio stations for commentary. The match will be broadcast live on satellite TV giants SuperSport channel 202 and can be streamed on Showmax.
Orlando Stadium
The 40 000 seater stadium will host the clash between Orlando Pirates and Baroka. The Soweto based stadium is expected to be filled to the rafters, as is the case when Pirates take to the pitch. The stadium was refurbished to a state-of-the-art stadium ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was used as one of the training venues for the global spectacle.
Betting odds (supplied by Hollywoodbets)
To win (90 min)
Orlando Pirates 2/9 | Draw 46/10 | Baroka 11/1
José Riveiro will be looking for a strong response from his team as they look to bounce back and regain their momentum.
I think the play is Pirates and over 3.5 goals at 17/10.