Nedbank Cup Final 2025: Kaizer Chiefs Face Orlando Pirates in Soweto Derby
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
AmaKhosi Aim To End Dismal Season On A High
There is always a buzz of anticipation when Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates face off, but this time it feels a little different, with this match marking the first time these great rivals will meet in any final since 2014, while the last time they locked horns in the Nedbank Cup final was two decades ago.
AmaKhosi enter this match as the underdogs according to the best online betting sites, and rightfully so, given their downward spiral in recent years. They are in ninth place in the PSL standings with just 30 points in 26 games, almost half the points tally that the Bucs have posted in just 23 league matches to date.
Additionally, Chiefs have not won silverware in 10 years, and there has been very little consistency in the team this season, with Nasreddine Nabi forced to chop and change his starting lineup almost weekly in search of improved combination play.
Thus, given the team’s underwhelming league performance, this final means everything to Chiefs fans, who have waited patiently for their heroes to give them something to cheer about again following years of heartache and disappointment.
En route to the final, the Glamour Boys secured a 4-0 victory against lower-division Free Agents in the round of 32 and took down Chippa United 3-0 in the last 16. However, their best performances came in the quarters and semis, where they ousted Stellies 3-1 before a stunning 2-1 victory over perennial PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns last month.
Buccaneers Eye Nedbank Cup Treble This Weekend
Standing in Kaizer Chiefs' way is their cross-town rival, Orlando Pirates, who come into this final in solid form and looking to win their third consecutive Nedbank Cup title, having lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2024, and our experts' Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates prediction suggests that they are the team to beat.
The Buccaneers are enjoying another impressive season, currently in second place in the league standings, while they have already won silverware this term, beating Stellenbosch in the MTN 8 final at the start of the campaign.
The Sea Robbers also delivered on the continental stage, reaching the semi-final of the CAF Champions League before suffering an agonising defeat against Pyramids, with Fiston Mayele scoring a late goal to secure victory for the Egyptian Premier League outfit.
Over the past few years, Pirates have earned the nickname “SA’s Trophy Kings”, having won each of the last five finals they played in, and they also enter this match with a massive psychological advantage following their 2-1 victory over Chiefs in the PSL a week ago.
The Bucs have been the dominant force in the Soweto Derby in recent times, winning each of the last five clashes across all competitions, including in this very tournament last year, when they took down AmaKhosi 2-1 in the semi-final.
Pirates will also be bolstered by the return of Nkosinathi Sibisi for the final, with the central defender having now completed his two-match suspension, while Patrick Maswanganyi could be one to keep an eye on, having made five goal contributions in this competition this season - the most of any player.
