Carling Knockout Cup: Pirates and Sundowns Lock Down Final Four Spots

by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath

image Carling Knockout Cup: Pirates and Sundowns Lock Down Final Four Spots
South African football’s heavyweights are continuing to flex their muscle, with Mamelodi Sundowns and defending champions Orlando Pirates becoming the first two teams to secure their places in the 2026 Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals. Focus now shifts to Kaizer Chiefs against Siwelele and Stellies taking on AmaZulu.
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Sundowns Tame Arrows as Pirates Ground Out Victory Over Sekhukhune

The quarter-final stage of the 2026 Carling Knockout Cup opened at Loftus Versfeld, where Mamelodi Sundowns squared off against Golden Arrows for the fourth time in the current campaign.

As discussed in our football predictions ahead of kickoff, Arrows entered the tie under the newly returned leadership of Mandla Ncikazi, hoping to execute a defensive block to frustrate the rhythm of Miguel Cardoso’s star-studded unit.

However, Sundowns dictated over 65% of the central ball progression throughout the evening. The definitive breakthrough arrived in the 69th minute when the clinical Iqraam Rayners latched onto a defence-splitting pass to fire home the match winner.

Cardoso’s side managed the remaining stages with relative ease, refusing to afford Arrows any clear-cut looks on goal and ensuring that the recent MTN8 champions remain firmly on track for another domestic cup double.

Pirates deliver another defensive masterclass in Soweto!

For defending PSL champions Orlando Pirates, Saturday’s task at the Orlando Stadium was less about aesthetics and more about tournament survival. Hosting Papi Zothwane’s Sekhukhune United, the Buccaneers were massive favourites, having already beaten Babina Noko three times without conceding across the MTN8 and Betway Premiership this season.

Orlando Pirates vs. Sekhukhune H2H (2026 Season):

  1. MTN8 Semi-Final (1st Leg): Sekhukhune 0-1 Pirates
  2. Betway Premiership: Pirates 2-0 Sekhukhune
  3. MTN8 Semi-Final (2nd Leg): Pirates 3-0 Sekhukhune
  4. Carling Knockout QF: Pirates 1-0 Sekhukhune

Bucs coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made a bold tactical adjustment, handing young Mpho Padime a surprise start in midfield over Thalente Mbatha. The gamble paid immediate dividends, as Padime scored the winner to send the league champions into the final four.

Two Spots Remain: Focus Shifts to Sunday Showdowns

With Pirates and Sundowns now in the semi-finals, the focus of South African football fans now turns to Sunday’s fixtures, with the remaining two tickets for the last four set to be decided in highly volatile environments:

  • The Peter Mokaba Duel: In-form Kaizer Chiefs, buoyed by Wandile Duba’s spectacular round-of-16 hat-trick, will face a dangerous and highly unpredictable Siwelele FC in Polokwane.
  • The Winelands War: Current high-flyers AmaZulu will travel to the Danie Craven Stadium to take on a resurgent Stellenbosch FC, in a clash between two of the most effective transitional systems in the PSL.