Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch meet in the MTN8 Final in what will be their fourth meeting in the competition and their second in the Final.

This is a repeat of last season's MTN8 Final, this is the first time since 2017-18 and 2018-19 that the same two teams will contest successive MTN8 Finals, in those seasons SuperSport United faced Cape Town City.

Over their previous three MTN8 meetings, Pirates have won two and Stellenbosch have won one game. In 2023-24, they met in the semi-finals, Stellenbosch were the hosts in the first leg on the 3rd September 2023. Pirates won 2-1 away Olivier Toure put Stellenbosch ahead in first half stoppage time, Zakhele Lepasa equalized for Pirates in the 66th minute, with Deon Hotto scoring the match winner in second half stoppage time.

In the second leg with Pirates as hosts on the 24th September 2023, Stellenbosch won 1-0. Zakhele Lepasa scored an own goal in the 22nd minute. Pirates progressed on away goals, with the aggregate score tied at 2-2, Pirates were eventual winners of the MTN8 in 2023-24.

They then met in the Final last season at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on the 5th October 2024, Pirates winning 3-1, Lehlohonolo Mojela scored for Stellenbosch in the 12th minute, Monnapule Saleng equalized for Pirates in the 43rd minute and Tshegofatso Mabasa and Relebohile Mofokeng scored in second half stoppage time.

In the last three MTN8 meetings between the sides Stellenbosch have scored first (W1 L2).

Pirates win over Stellenbosch in last season’s Final was their first by more than a single goal in an MTN8 Final since defeating Qwa Qwa Stars in the replay of the 1996 final 3-0.

Pirates were the first team since Wits 3-0 win over in 2016 over Sundowns to score three goals in an MTN8 Final, when defeating Stellenbosch 3-1 in last seasons final.

Pirates win last season against Stellenbosch was also the biggest win by a team in the final since Wits’ 3-0 win over Sundowns in 2016.

All three previous MTN8 matches has produced a winner in open play, inside 90 minutes.

Their only other cup meeting came in the League Cup Last 16 in 2019-20, Pirates were hosts on the 19th October 2019 and won 1-0. Thembinkosi Lorch scored the game’s only goal in the 84th minute.

Of the five goals that Pirates have scored against Stellenbosch in all cup games, four have come in the second half of games, three have been scored after the 80th minute.

They have already met in the league this season, Pirates were hosts on the 20th August and won 1-0. Kamogelo Sebelebele scored the game’s only goal in the 15th minute.

Overall this will be the 18th meeting between Pirates and Stellenbosch in all competitions. Pirates have 7 wins, Stellenbosch 5 and there has been 5 draws.

Pirates are unbeaten against Stellenbosch in their last two meetings in all competitions (W1 D1), both were league games. Stellenbosch have won three of their last six meeting against Pirates in all competitions (D1 L2).

This will be the 2nd MTN8 Final played at the Mbombela Stadium, the only other MTN8 Final played there was the 2016-17 Final between Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns, Wits won 3-0.

This will be the 5th cup final to be played at the Mbombela Stadium along with the MTN8 Final in 2016-17, the 2010-11 and the 2023-24 Nedbank Cup Finals and the 2013-14 Telkom Knockout Cup Final.

Pirates will be playing their 4th Final at the Mbombela Stadium, they have been victorious on two occasions (L1).

Pirates defeated Black Leopards 3-1 in the 2010-11 Nedbank Cup Final, they lost 2-1 to Platinum Stars in the 2013-14 Telkom Knockout and defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup in 2023-24.

Stellenbosch will be playing their first Final at the Mbombela Stadium, both their previous cup finals were played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

This is the 18th edition of the MTN8 tournament after sponsors MTN took over in 2008.

This is the 51st instalment of the MTN8 competition since the first event was first staged in 1972. It has been played every year bar 1977, and 1997-1999, when it briefly fell off the South African football calendar. It returned in 2000.

Forty-three of the 50 previous winners of the MTN8 have come from Gauteng, with three victories for the Western Cape (Santos, Ajax Cape Town and Cape Town City), and one each for the Free State (Bloemfontein Celtic), KwaZulu-Natal (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Mpumalanga (Witbank Aces) and North West (Platinum Stars).

Stellenbosch are aiming to be the 4th side from the Western Cape to lift the trophy.

In the PSL Era, eleven finals have gone to extra-time, four involving Mamelodi Sundowns (one win, three losses all on penalties), three involving Cape Town City (one win on penalties, two losses on penalties), four involving Pirates Orlando Pirates (three wins one on penalties, one loss on penalties), three for Kaizer Chiefs (two wins won on penalties, one loss), SuperSport United (one win on penalties, one loss on penalties) and Moroka Swallows (two losses one on penalties), and one each for, Cape Town Spurs (one loss), Jomo Cosmos (one win) and Platinum Stars (one win on penalties).

Of the nine finals to have gone to extra time, eight have been decided in a penalty shootout. Pirates have been involved in three shootouts in a Final (W2 L1).

Nine of the last 17 Finals have been decided in 90 minutes, with eight going to extra time of which seven were decided in a penalty shootout and one in extra time.

Golden Arrows’ 6-0 win over Ajax Cape Town in the 2009-10 final of the MTN8 remains the biggest victory in any domestic cup final in South African football history.

In the PSL Era, only four finals have been won by two goals or more, along with Arrows in 2009-10, Santos won 2-0 in 2002-03, Wits 3-0 in 2016-17 and Pirates won 3-1 last season. The runner up in the latter three finals was Sundowns. In the PSL Era 13 MTN8 Finals that have been decided in open play have been won by a single goal margin.