Pirates vs Sundowns: Durban Set for Explosive MTN8 Final Showdown

Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will meet in Durban with the MTN8 trophy at stake after the Premier Soccer League confirmed Moses Mabhida Stadium as the venue for the final.

Sundowns will be designated as the away side when the two South African football giants face each other on Saturday, 10 October at 18:00.

The choice of venue adds further significance to an already familiar rivalry, particularly for Pirates, who have developed a strong recent record at the Durban stadium in this competition.

Pirates return to a familiar stage

Moses Mabhida Stadium has featured prominently in Orlando Pirates’ recent MTN8 success.

The Buccaneers played in three successive finals at the venue between 2022 and 2024. Their first appearance during that run came against AmaZulu in 2022, followed by a dramatic encounter with Sundowns the following year.

Pirates then returned to Durban in 2024 to face Stellenbosch FC, completing another successful campaign.

The stadium has therefore become closely associated with the club’s remarkable run in the competition.

Sundowns stand between Pirates and a fifth straight title

Pirates will enter the final attempting to extend a remarkable sequence of MTN8 triumphs.

The Buccaneers have won the competition in each of the last four seasons, beginning with their victory over AmaZulu in 2022. They followed that success by overcoming Sundowns on penalties in 2023 before beating Stellenbosch in consecutive finals in 2024 and 2025.

Their latest triumph came at Mbombela Stadium, where Pirates defeated Stellenbosch 3-0 after extra time.

That victory made them the first club to win four consecutive MTN8 titles and lifted their overall tally to 14 trophies.

Another record already awaits Pirates

The Buccaneers have added another milestone to their MTN8 campaign this season.

Their 4-0 aggregate victory over Sekhukhune United secured a place in the final and made Pirates the first club in the competition’s history to reach five consecutive finals.

They will now attempt to turn that achievement into a fifth straight trophy when they return to Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Sundowns have recent final memories of their own

While Pirates have dominated the competition in recent years, Sundowns have also enjoyed success against the Buccaneers in the MTN8.

The sides have met 14 times in the tournament, with their meetings consisting of 10 semi-finals, two quarter-finals and two finals.

Their most recent final encounter was in 2023. After 120 minutes ended without a goal, the contest went to penalties, where Pirates prevailed 3-1.

Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine was central to the victory, saving three Sundowns penalties during the shootout.

Pirates also eliminated Sundowns in 2022

The Buccaneers had already demonstrated their strength against Sundowns one year earlier.

Pirates defeated Sundowns 3-0 on aggregate in the 2022 semi-finals before going on to lift the trophy.

Those results have contributed to one of the most compelling rivalries in the modern MTN8 era, with the clubs repeatedly meeting at crucial stages of the competition.

Sundowns chase their first MTN8 title since 2021

For Sundowns, the final provides an opportunity to reclaim a trophy they have not lifted since 2021.

Moses Mabhida Stadium hosted that year’s final, when Sundowns defeated Cape Town City to claim the MTN8 title.

The Durban venue has since witnessed Pirates build an impressive chapter of their own tournament history.

Durban set for another major MTN8 occasion

The latest final brings the rivalry back to a stadium that has hosted several decisive encounters between South Africa‘s leading clubs.

Pirates will arrive with four consecutive MTN8 titles behind them and the chance to extend their record further. Sundowns, meanwhile, will be looking to prevent another Buccaneers triumph and add the trophy to their collection for the first time since 2021.

The stage is now set for another chapter in one of the MTN8’s most familiar rivalries on 10 October.