Rare penalty shoot-outs and unlikely foes: Nedbank Cup final stats and facts

Rare penalty shoot-outs and unlikely foes: Nedbank Cup final stats and facts
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This match marks the end of a fascinating season filled with unexpected results and fresh milestones. Below is an overview of the main statistics and details for the finals of the event from 2008 onwards.

1 – Just one Nedbank Cup final has required a penalty shootout, occurring when Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town finished 0-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in 2015. Sundowns prevailed 4-3 in the penalties.

1 – The goal that Galaxy allowed against Milford FC in their 1-1 semifinal draw represented the first one they conceded throughout the 2026 Nedbank Cup tournament.

1 – Galaxy will take on Durban City in the 2026 Nedbank Cup final. Their sole previous encounter in the tournament was in 2025, where City, competing in the second division, overcame Galaxy 2-1 in Durban during the Last 16 stage.

1 – Either Durban City manager Pitso Dladla or TS Galaxy manager Bernard Parker will secure their initial major honour as a head coach. Parker has held the position for merely one week, making any triumph an immediate achievement. He also seeks to be the first individual to win the Nedbank Cup as both a player and a coach, after netting the decisive goal for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2013 final. 

2 – Both Durban City and TS Galaxy are reaching their second Nedbank Cup final, yet their initial appearances differed greatly. Galaxy were in the second tier when they beat Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in the 2019 final, and they stand as the only non top-flight team to claim the prize. Durban City, formerly Maritzburg United, met Free State Stars in the 2018 final and fell 1-0.

2 – Eight athletes share the lead in the Nedbank Cup goal scorers list for this season with two goals each: TJ Diedericks (CR Vasco da Gama), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Victor Letsoalo (TS Galaxy), Lundi Mahala (Richards Bay), Moeti Mofokeng (Jacksa Spears), Thuso Mogale (Casric Stars), Bradley Mojela (Sekhukhune United) and Siphosethu Ndlabi (Milford).

3 – Ex Pirates forward Kermit Erasmus tops the scoring in Nedbank Cup finals from 2008. He scored for SuperSport United in their win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2012 final, and added two more for Pirates in their 3-1 triumph against BidVest Wits in 2014. The other players with goals in more than one final include Jeremy Brockie (SuperSport United), Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United), Thulasizwe Mbuyane (Orlando Pirates), Gaston Sirino (Mamelodi Sundowns/Kaizer Chiefs) and Sifiso Vilakazi (BidVest Wits).

3 – The largest margins in Nedbank Cup finals were SuperSport Uniteds 4-1 win over Pirates in Durban in 2017, and BidVest Wits 3-0 success against AmaZulu in Johannesburg in 2010. The past eight finals have each been settled by just one goal.

3 – The most decisive wins in this years Nedbank Cup all featured three-goal differences: CR Vasco da Gama 4-1 Luthuli Brigades (Last 32); TTM 1-4 Orlando Pirates (Last 32); Army Rocket 0-3 Casric Stars (Last 32); Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-0 Orbit College (Last 32); and Milford FC 3-0 Mkhambathi (Last 16).

4 – Interestingly, the previous four Nedbank Cup finals have all concluded at 2-1. The four prior to those finished 1-0. Prior to this streak of 2-1 results, no final had ever ended that way. The 1-0 outcome remains the most frequent in Nedbank Cup finals, occurring in seven instances.

5 – This will mark only the fifth Nedbank Cup final since 2008 without Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns involved. The previous ones were 2009, with Moroka Swallows defeating University of Pretoria; 2010, BidVest Wits beating AmaZulu; 2018, Free State Stars narrowly winning against Maritzburg United; and 2021, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, now Marumo Gallants, overcoming Chippa United.

5 – The Moses Mabhida Stadium has staged the most Nedbank Cup finals, with last years event being the fifth occasion. Chiefs defeated Pirates 2-1 to take the title. The venue for this years final, Peter Mokaba Stadium, will host its second decider. Orlando Stadium and Mbombela Stadium have each held two finals as well.

6 – The highest goal tally in any single Nedbank Cup match this season reached six: FC Cardinals 2-4 Jacksa Spears (Last 32) and Siwelele 3-3 Richards Bay (Last 32).

7 – Pirates featured in a seventh Nedbank Cup final since 2008 last season, setting a record for any club. They boast four victories. This edges out Sundowns, who have appeared in six finals and secured four wins. SuperSport United with five finals and Chiefs with three follow behind.

9 – The current finalists, Durban City and Galaxy, have clashed nine times in various competitions overall, with City claiming six wins alongside two defeats and one draw. They have triumphed in the most recent three fixtures, netting six goals total.

10 – The penalty shootout between TS Galaxy and Milford in the semifinals was the tenth instance in this years Nedbank Cup requiring spot kicks to decide a match. This sets a new competition record, surpassing the nine from 2021. Fourteen matches this season extended to extra time, another record.

69 – The overall goals tallied in the Nedbank Cup this season across 30 fixtures, averaging 2.30 per game.

450 – Durban City custodian Darren Keet and back Siphamandla Ncanana have each logged over 450 minutes in this years Nedbank Cup, the highest among all participants.