Pirates’ Historic MTN8 Dominance at Risk as Sundowns Await Late Injury Decisions

Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will meet in the 2026 MTN8 final on Saturday, with the prestigious domestic cup set to be decided at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 as the two South African giants renew their long-running rivalry in the competition.

The match also carries an element of uncertainty for Sundowns, with three Bafana Bafana internationals facing late fitness assessments.

Sundowns Await Final Fitness Decisions

Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba and Bathusi Aubaas returned from international duty with injuries, leaving their participation in Saturday’s final uncertain.

Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said the players had undergone initial medical assessments and would be examined again as the club continues to monitor their condition.

The final decision on their availability could therefore be delayed until close to kick-off.

Muscle Injuries Raise Concern

Cardoso indicated that the club would be particularly cautious with players dealing with muscle-related problems.

Modiba and Aubaas are understood to have suffered muscle concerns while representing Bafana Bafana, prompting Sundowns to avoid taking unnecessary risks with either player.

“We cannot risk putting a player in, in case they’re not ready,” Cardoso said, while stressing that this did not necessarily mean the affected players would miss the final.

Mokoena’s situation will also be monitored before the team makes its final selection.

A Familiar MTN8 Rivalry

Pirates and Sundowns have developed one of the most familiar rivalries in MTN8 history, having met 14 times in the competition.

Those encounters have included 10 semi-finals, two quarter-finals and two previous finals.

Their most recent final meeting came in 2023, when neither side could break the deadlock after 120 minutes. Pirates eventually prevailed 3-1 on penalties.

Chaine Remembered for 2023 Shootout

Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine played a decisive role in the 2023 final by saving three penalties during the shootout.

The victory added another chapter to the clubs’ competitive history and demonstrated how closely contested their MTN8 meetings can be.

Pirates had also eliminated Sundowns in the semi-finals a year earlier, winning that 2022 tie 3-0 on aggregate.

Pirates Have Dominated the Competition

The Buccaneers have enjoyed an exceptional run in the MTN8 since that 2022 campaign.

They won the competition in four consecutive seasons, defeating AmaZulu in 2022, Sundowns in 2023 and Stellenbosch FC in both 2024 and 2025.

Their 2025 success produced another milestone when they defeated Stellenbosch 3-0 after extra time at Mbombela Stadium.

That result made Pirates the first club to win four successive MTN8 titles and took their overall number of MTN8 trophies to 14.

Five Straight Finals for Pirates

Pirates have already extended their record-breaking run in the competition during the current campaign.

A 4-0 aggregate victory over Sekhukhune United in the semi-finals secured the Buccaneers’ place in a fifth consecutive MTN8 final.

That achievement makes Pirates the first club to reach five successive finals in the competition.

Sundowns Stand Between Pirates and Another Trophy

The final now presents Sundowns with the opportunity to halt Pirates’ remarkable run and claim the MTN8 trophy themselves.

For Pirates, the match represents another chance to extend an unprecedented sequence of success in the competition.

With the game taking place at Moses Mabhida Stadium, attention will also be on Sundowns’ team selection as the club waits for its injured internationals to complete their final fitness assessments.