The 2026 edition of the MTN8 gets underway on Saturday when defending champions Orlando Pirates host Durban City and Mamelodi Sundowns have home advantage against Polokwane City
Om Sunday Amazulu host Sekhukhune and Kaizer Chiefs are at home to Golden Arrows. Let’s begin with an outright betting update to lift the trophy.
To Lift The MTN8 Trophy
Pirates 2/1
Sundowns 2/1
Chiefs 33/10
Amazulu 7/1
Sekhikhune 10/1
Golden Arrows 12/1
Polokwane City 20/1
Durban City 20/1
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Orlando Pirates vs Durban City
The 2025 / 26 campaign was a memorable one for Pirates who secured a first league title since 2012 and they also won this competition and the Carling Knockout.
After getting past Polokwane City (2-0) in the quarters and then getting the better of Sundowns in a semi final penalty shoot out Pirates beat Stellenbosch 3-0 in last season’s final with all the goals coming in extra time. Pirates have won this competition in each of the last 4 seasons.
Last weekend Pirates began their Betway Premiership campaign with a 2-0 win over newcomers Milford FC in Orlando
Durban City also picked up silverware last season when they won the Nedbank Cup. They found league wins hard to come by after that but still managed to finish in eighth position. City began the current league campaign at Polokwane City last weekend and they went down 1-0.
Pirates were held to a 0-0 draw by Durban City in the penultimate league game of last season which sent the title race down to the last weekend where a victory saw them pip Sundowns to top spot by a single point.
Verdict:
Pirates are predictably short price favourites at around 1 / 4 in the early betting and that’s to win in regulation time. I think they will get the job done and I’ll go Multi Scores, 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0
Bets: Multi Scores, Pirates to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 at 11/10 with Lucky Fish
Note, odds are subject to change
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Polokwane City
The 2025 / 26 domestic season surprisingly saw Sundowns go empty handed including finishing as runners up to Pirates by a 1 point deficit in a title race which went right to the wire. However more the compensation was significant as they picked up the CAF Champions League trophy. Downs were not in league action last weekend after the tragic death of Jayden Adams and hence this will be their first competitive domestic action of the new season.
Sundowns beat Richards Bay 4-0 in last season’s MTN8 quarter finals, both legs of their subsequent semi final match up with Pirates finished all square and they bowed on penalty kicks.
Polokwane began their Betway Premiership season on aa winning note with a 2-1 win away to Richards Bay last weekend. They now get another crack at the MTN8 after finishing seventh in the league in 2025/26 and last season’s head to heads with Downs saw them lose both matches, 1-0 and 3-0. In the MTN8 last season Polokwane City lost their quarter final clash to Pirates in Orlando 2-0.
The Verdict
Sundowns have had a pre-season in Europe but still could be a touch undercooked and 1 / 3 to win in normal time wouldn’t be my idea of a bet at the start of the season. I could be totally wide of the mark but I’ll take my chance with no more than 1 goal in the first half and likewise in the second.
Bets: Both halves under 1.5 goals? Yes at 14/10 with Lucky Fish
Note, odds are subject to change
