Mamelodi Sundowns have ended their domestic cup drought with a 2-0 win over Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The Brazilians' victory was sealed with first-half and late stoppage-time strikes from Teboho Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners. This triumph marks Sundowns' first MTN8 trophy since 2021, and it came against a Pirates side that had been dominating South African cup competitions in recent years.
Head coach Miguel Cardoso attributed the win to his players' extensive experience in high-level international matches, which helped them manage the critical phases of the contest. He pointed to their past performances in matches against Al Ahli in the Intercontinental Cup, where they demonstrated their ability to adapt and improve in the second half. This experience, Cardoso believes, played a significant role in Sundowns' victory over Pirates.
The win thwarted Orlando Pirates' coach Abdeslam Ouaddou's side from continuing their recent cup dominance. Pirates had lifted a treble in the 2025/2026 season, including ending Sundowns' eight-season Premiership title run. However, Cardoso felt that the 2-0 scoreline was a fair result against worthy opponents in what he described as "a beautiful show, a beautiful football game with a lot of competitiveness".
Sundowns have competed in several high-profile international competitions, including the Fifa Club World Cup and the Fifa Intercontinental Cup. In the latter, they beat Al Ahli Saudi to lift the African-Asian-Pacific Cup. This experience, Cardoso believes, has helped his players develop the skills and maturity needed to compete at the highest level.
Cardoso urged his squad to stay grounded as Sundowns navigate a demanding seven-front campaign across domestic and CAF competitions. The team will need to maintain their focus and energy to compete in the Premiership, MTN8, Carling Knockout, and Nedbank domestically, as well as the Intercontinental Cup, Champions League, and CAF Super Cup internationally.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Sundowns, who had not won a domestic cup since the 2021/2022 Nedbank Cup. The team's coach, Miguel Cardoso, praised his players for their commitment and organisation, which helped them see out the win against Pirates. He also acknowledged the threat posed by Pirates, who had been competitive in the CAF Champions League in recent years.
As Sundowns celebrate their MTN8 triumph, they will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming competitions. With a talented squad and experienced coach, the Brazilians will be eager to make their mark in the seasons to come.
Key points
- Mamelodi Sundowns' international experience played a key role in their 2-0 win over Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final.
- The victory marked Sundowns' first MTN8 trophy since 2021 and ended their domestic cup drought.
- Coach Miguel Cardoso has urged his squad to stay grounded ahead of a demanding seven-front campaign across domestic and CAF competitions.
