Posted in Features, News on May 05, 2025.
2025 will see Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando return to Durban for a Nedbank Cup Final for the first time in 19 years. The last one, back in 2006, ended 0-0 with Chiefs winning 5-3 in the shoot-out.
The battles between the teams in the country’s most prestigious cup competition, currently known as the Nedbank Cup, stretch back to 1971. Here, we break down this storied rivalry in by the numbers through the years, as Chiefs head into the cup final looking for a record extending 14th title.
1: The first meetings in the Nedbank Cup between Chiefs and Pirates came in the 1971 Final; the first game ended 2-2 on 11 December, and Chiefs won the replay 2-1 on 18 December, with goals from Petrus ‘Ten Ten’ Ndzimande and Michael ‘Bizzah’ Dlamini.
2: This will be only the second meeting in the Nedbank Cup Final between the teams in the PSL era (since 1996/97). The other was in 2005/06.
3: The teams once met in three successive Nedbank Cup Finals - in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Pirates won the first one, with Chiefs winning the latter two.
4: Three different coaches have won Nedbank Cup titles in the PSL era. For all three, it was their first cup final as Chiefs coach.
Muhsin Ertugral in 1999/2000; Ernst Middendorp in 2005/06 and Stuart Baxter in 2012/13. Nasereddine Nabi can become the 4th Chiefs coach in the PSL era to win the Nedbank Cup in his first season at the helm of the Club.
4: This is the fourth Nedbank Cup Final between Chiefs and Pirates to be played in Kwa-Zulu Natal. In the 1974 Final Pirates defeated Chiefs in Kwa-Mashu, yet Chiefs have won the last two, in 1976 in Umlazi, and at Kings Park in Durban in 2005/06.
5: Kaizer Chiefs’ all- time top scorer in games against Orlando Pirates, Ace Ntsoelengoe, scored 19 goals in Derby games. He managed to score in five Nedbank Cup Finals against Pirates - in 1971, 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1982.
6: Of the teams’ eight previous meetings in the Nedbank Cup Final, Chiefs have won six finals - in 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984 and 2006. Pirates have managed two wins, in 1975 and 1988.
6: The 2024/25 Nedbank Cup is Chiefs’ sixth Nedbank Cup Final in the PSL era. They have won three of their previous five finals appearances - in 1999/00, 2005/06 and 2012/13. They were runners-up in 1998/99 and 2018/19.
9: This will be their ninth meeting between the sides in a Nedbank Cup Final. They have previously met in the final in 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1988 and 2005/06.
11: Kaizer Chiefs have had 11 different coaches at the helm for their 13 Nedbank Cup titles. Thomas Johnson won two titles, as head coach in 1971, and co-head coach along with current club Chairman, Kaizer Motaung in 1972. The Chairman also won the cup as sole head coach in 1977. One other coach, Elkiam Khumalo, has managed to win two titles as Chiefs coach, doing so in 1976 and 1981.
12: This will be Chiefs’ and Pirates’ 12th match in a Nedbank Cup Final with three finals - 1971, 1981 and 1988 - needing replays to decide a winner.
13: Kaizer Chiefs are the record 13 times Nedbank Cup winners.
20: Kaizer Chiefs will be appearing in their 20th Nedbank Cup Final, their last coming in 2019.
21: Chiefs and Pirates have met 21 times in the Nedbank Cup in all rounds of the competition. Chiefs have nine wins in regulation time Including extra time), with one win on penalties. Pirates have seven wins, with the remaining for games ending in draws. Their last meeting was in the 2022/23 semi-final, which Pirates won 2-1 after extra-time.
23: Across their 21 previous Nedbank Cup clashes, a total of 46 goals have been scored, with Chiefs and Pirates scoring 23 goals each.
19 510 – When Chiefs and Pirates take to the field at the Moses Mabhida Stadium for the final on 10 May, it will be 19 510 days, or 53 years and 5 months, since their first meeting in the Nedbank Cup on 11 December, 1971.
Past Games in Nedbank Cup Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates
1971
11 December, 1971, Orlando (Life Challenge Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2 (Michael Yende own goal, Pule Ntsoelengoe pen)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Gabriel Khoza, Johnny Kekana)
After extra time
18 December, 1971, Orlando (Life Challenge Cup Final replay)
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Alfred Chamane)
Kaizer Chiefs (2) 2 (Petros Nzimande, Michael Dlamini)
1972
25 November, 1972, Orlando (Life Challenge Cup semi-final)
Kaizer Chiefs (2) 3 (Michael Dlamini 2, Ariel Kgongoane)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (MacDonald Skosana, Jomo Sono)
1974
4 November, 1974, KwaMashu (Life Challenge Cup, semifinal)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (MacDonald Skosana)
1975
18 October, 1975, Orlando (Life Challenge Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Pule Ntsoelengoe)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Jacob Motaung, Webster Lichaba)
After extra time
1976
31 October, 1976, Umlazi (Benson&Hedges Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Pule Ntsoelengoe)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
1977
8 October, 1977, Orlando (Benson&Hedges Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Ebison Mugoyo)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
1981
28 November, 1981, Orlando (Mainstay Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Nelson Dladla)
Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Jerry Sadike)
After extra time
5 December, 1981, Orlando (Mainstay Cup Final replay)
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Jomo Sono)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 3 (Jan Lechaba, Pule Ntsoelengoe, Leonard Likoebe)
1982
13 November, 1982, Orlando (Mainstay Cup semifinal)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Pule Ntsoelengoe, Nelson Dladla)
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Amos Mkhari)
1984
24 November, 1984, Ellis Park (Mainstay Cup Final)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Nelson Dladla pen)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
1987
15 November, 1987, Ellis Park (Mainstay Cup semifinal)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Absalom Thindwa)
1988
26 November, 1988, Ellis Park (BoB Save Super Bowl Final)
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Orlando Pirates 0
After extra-time
3 December, 1988, Ellis Park (BoB Save Super Bowl Final replay)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Basil Steenkamp, Lawrence Maake)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Mike Mangena)
After extra-time
1993
13 November, 1993, Soccer City (BOB Save Super Bowl semifinal)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Doctor Khumalo)
Orlando Pirates (0) 0
1996/97
2 November, 1996, Soccer City (BOB Save Super Bowl semifinal)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (David Modise)
Orlando Pirates (2) 4 (Jerry Sikhosana 3, Helman Mkhalele)
1997/98
28 March, 1998, Soccer City (Bob Save Super Bowl, second round)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Sam Pam)
2005/06
20 May, 2006, Kings Park (Absa Cup Final)
Orlando Pirates 0
Kaizer Chiefs 0
After extra-time
Chiefs win 5-3 on penalties
2015/16
5 March, 2016, Soccer City (Nedbank Cup first round)
Orlando Pirates (0) 2 (Tendai Ndoro 2)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
2022/23
6 May, 2023, Soccer City (Nedbank Cup semifinal)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Maart)
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Erasmus, Mthethwa)
After extra-time
