The MTN 8 Cup reaches its conclusion on Saturday the 10th of October as defending Champions Orlando Pirates face Mamelodi Sundowns at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Pirates enjoyed a convincing semi-final victory over Sekhukhune United, while Sundowns recovered from a first leg defeat against Golden Arrows to book their place in the final.
Both sides have overcome testing encounters along the way and will now look to finish the competition with silverware. We take a closer look at the final from a betting angle below.
Orlando Pirates vs Mamelodi Sundowns – click here to bet
Orlando Pirates began their title defence with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Durban City in the quarter-finals. The Buccaneers needed extra time to settle the contest, scoring the decisive goal in the 120th minute after the sides finished level at 1-1 in normal time.
Pirates then faced Sekhukhune United in the semi-finals and secured a valuable 1-0 away victory in the opening leg on the 22nd of August. They followed that result with a comfortable 3-0 home win a week later, progressing to the final with a commanding 4-0 aggregate victory.
The side have won all three of their matches in this season’s competition, scoring six goals and conceding just once. Consecutive clean sheets in the semi-finals should give them confidence heading into a much tougher assignment against Sundowns.
Mamelodi Sundowns opened their campaign with a dramatic 3-2 quarter-final victory over Polokwane City. The Tshwane outfit required extra time to get the job done as well, eventually finding the winner in the second-half of the additional period.
Their semi-final against Golden Arrows proved equally demanding. Sundowns suffered a surprise 1-0 home defeat in the first leg on the 23rd of August, leaving them needing a result away from home to keep their campaign alive.
They responded with a 3-2 victory in the return fixture, bringing the aggregate score to 3-3 and advancing on away goals. Sundowns have shown their ability to recover under pressure, although conceding five goals across their three matches suggests Pirates could find opportunities in the final.
Head-to-Head:
The last six meetings have produced two victories apiece and two draws. Sundowns won the most recent encounter 2-1 away in February 2026, following a 1-1 draw at home in November 2025.
Pirates came out on top in their 2025 MTN 8 semi-final, winning 2-1 away after drawing the opening leg 1-1. Both teams have scored in all six of the meetings, with four producing over 2.5 goals.
Odds: Orlando Pirates 3.00 | Draw 3.00 | Mamelodi Sundowns 2.60
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Verdict:
Sundowns enter as slight favourites but Pirates’ performances in this competition make this a difficult final to call. The Buccaneers were convincing across both semi-final legs and will look to build on that defensive discipline against an opponent with considerable attacking quality.
Sundowns have already demonstrated that they can recover from setbacks, although their route to the Final has been less convincing. Pirates should have chances against a defence that has conceded in every round, while Sundowns have scored against Pirates in each of the six meetings in recent years.
A cautious opening would be understandable with the trophy at stake but the recent scoring record between these sides points towards opportunities at both ends. I am therefore looking towards both teams to score. I am also backing the outright win market where I believe Orlando Pirates will lift the trophy once again.
Bet: Both Teams to Score – Yes at 1.95
Bet: Orlando Pirates to Win at 3.00
Note: All prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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