MTN8 Semifinal Wrap-Up

Semifinal 1: Orlando Pirates advance 4-0 on aggregate

First Leg — Sekhukhune United 0-1 Orlando Pirates

Venue: Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane  |  Date: August 22, 2026

Deon Hotto's first-half strike proved the difference as Orlando Pirates took a slender but crucial away-goal advantage into the second leg. It was far from Pirates' most fluent performance, but the reigning champions displayed the resilience that has made them South Africa's dominant cup force in recent years, keeping their unbeaten run in MTN8 first legs intact. New signing Sebastien Pedersen was given his first run-out from the bench, coming closest to a second goal with a left-footed effort that flashed off target in the 80th minute after a defensive mistake from Daniel Cardoso.

Second Leg — Orlando Pirates 3-0 Sekhukhune United

Venue: Orlando Stadium, Soweto  |  Date: August 29, 2026

Pirates completed the job in Soweto to seal a 4-0 aggregate triumph and, with it, a place in a historic fifth consecutive MTN8 final — the first club ever to achieve the feat. Chances were scarce early on for the hosts, with Oswin Appollis and Yanela Mbuthuma both spurning early sight of goal, before defender Sbangani Zulu also went close with a header from a corner. Sekhukhune pushed hard after the break, laying siege to the Pirates goal for long stretches, but goalkeeping heroics — including a fine stop from Zulu to deny Bright Ndlovu in the 70th minute — kept Sekhukhune scoreless, and the Buccaneers eventually made the contest safe with late goals to complete a comfortable 3-0 scoreline on the night.

Semifinal 2: Mamelodi Sundowns advance on away goals (3-3 agg.)

First Leg — Mamelodi Sundowns 0-1 Golden Arrows

Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville  |  Date: August 23, 2026

Golden Arrows produced the shock of the semifinal round, stunning Sundowns on their own patch thanks to a solitary strike from Junior Dion in the 37th minute. The result gave Pitso Dladla's Arrows a first-leg advantage and, with it, genuine belief they could reach a first MTN8 final in 17 years.

Second Leg — Golden Arrows 2-3 Mamelodi Sundowns

Venue: King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium, KwaZulu-Natal  |  Date: August 30, 2026

What followed was one of the ties of the tournament. Sundowns, boosted by the return of Bafana Bafana defender Khulumani Ndamane alongside Grant Kekana at the back, went on the front foot from the opening whistle. The breakthrough came in style in the 31st minute when Cassius Mailula exchanged a slick one-two with Marcelo Allende in tight space before finishing into the far corner, leveling the tie on aggregate.

Arrows appeared to have weathered Sundowns' response when Junior Dion struck again in the 69th minute to restore their aggregate lead, sending the King Goodwill Zwelithini crowd into raptures with a first final since 2009 suddenly within reach.

Sundowns, however, refused to fold. Substitute Antonio van Wyk — a recent arrival from SV Ried — proved the catalyst for a dramatic late turnaround, setting up Man of the Match Marcelo Allende to restore Sundowns' aggregate lead in the 77th minute before scoring himself in the 85th minute to make it 3-2 on the night. Golden Arrows had a goal controversially ruled out for handball earlier in the second half — with Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso adamant afterward that his side had actually scored four — before Siyabonga Khumalo's stoppage-time strike for Arrows made it 3-3 on aggregate and set up a nervy finish. Sundowns held on to advance to the final on the away-goals rule, ending Golden Arrows' hopes of a first MTN8 final appearance since 2009.