Winners & Losers – A statistical recap of the weekend action

Orlando Pirates, Marumo Gallants, and Kaizer Chiefs all made it through to the Nedbank Cup semi-finals after close wins in dramatic quarter-finals over the weekend. Pirates and Gallants needed penalty shootouts to advance against SuperSport and Durban City, respectively, while Chiefs needed (very) late goals to go past Stellenbosch in controversial fashion. Winners & Losers is a statistical recap of the weekend action.

Winners

Kaizer Chiefs

Winners firstly for keeping their heads when it seemed as though the momentum was going Stellenbosch’s way late on. Winners secondly because (Sundowns & Pirates aside) this was probably the toughest opponent they could draw at this stage of the competition.

4 – This was the fourth meeting between Chiefs and Stellenbosch in Cup competitions, with Chiefs progressing on all four occasions.

Nasredinne Nabi

Kaizer Chiefs’ league form has been inconsistent under the Tunisian coach, with his side stuck in mid-table for long periods. The underlying numbers suggest Chiefs are better than their league position, but outcomes are yet to match process. In the Cup, both seem evident, and the deep run may have converted many doubters still uncertain about their gaffer.

10 – Chiefs have scored 10 goals in the Nedbank Cup so far – the last time they scored more goals in this competition was in the 1999/2000 season.

Pule Mmodi & Ignacio Miguel

Two players that have been key in this run are Pule Mmodi and Ignacio Miguel, with both scoring a goal in each round of the Cup. Miguel’s cool penalty set the tone for most of the game for Chiefs, but Mmodi’s alertness was exactly what was needed at the death.

1989 – Mmodi and Miguel are the first Chiefs players to score in the first three rounds of the competition since Marks Maponyane in 1989.

Orlando Pirates

It was far from a supreme performance, but Orlando Pirates did just enough to get past SuperSport on the weekend. In Cup competitions, the results matter more than the performance. With CAF quarter-finals coming up, the penalty shootout would have also provided extra spot-kick practice under pressure.

15 – Pirates are unbeaten in 15 Nedbank Cup games (W12 D3), equalling their longest unbeaten run in the competition between 1996 & 2000 (W10 D5).

Jose Riveiro

“ is one of the possibilities in a knockout game. There are only two possible results in these types of games… you have to go to the penalties and do your best. We did a good job in that space. I am happy to be in the semifinals…” – the Spaniard echoed at full time.

13 – Jose Riveiro has never lost a Cup game in this competition, winning 11 and drawing two of his 13 games.

Marumo Gallants

In 2022, they reached the final of the Nedbank Cup (lost to Sundowns). In 2023, they reached the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup (lost to Yanga). In 2024, they reached the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup (lost to Sundowns).  In 2025, they have reached the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup. You can underestimate them at your peril.

Losers

The organisers

After Pirates won via shootout, and then Chiefs via injury-time goals, the cancellation of the Sundowns-Sekhukhune game robbed us of a memorable day of drama. Instead, 8 March 2025 will now be remembered as the day PSL and SAFA double-booked a stadium.

Officiating

While the noise will focus on alleged mistakes by officials in Chiefs’ 91st-minute goal vs Stellenbosch, focus should go to the whole referring performance instead, and how they can be helped. Referees will always make mistakes, but too many in a short space of time raises uncomfortable questions.