Orlando Pirates will attempt to extend their record-breaking MTN8 run when they face Mamelodi Sundowns in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The match in Durban, which kicks off at 18:00, is sold out, with more than 50 000 supporters expected to attend.
Pirates are bidding to win the competition for an unprecedented fifth successive season. Victory over Sundowns would also keep alive their pursuit of another domestic treble after a highly successful period under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
Sundowns, meanwhile, are seeking their first domestic trophy in two years. They failed to win any domestic silverware last season and will aim to end that wait by overcoming the defending champions.
Pirates’ unbeaten MTN8 record
The Buccaneers have not lost in the MTN8 since 24 September 2023, when they were beaten 1-0 by Stellenbosch FC in the second leg of their tie.
Despite that defeat, Pirates progressed on the away-goal rule. They have remained unbeaten in the competition ever since, recording nine wins and two draws across their subsequent 11 matches.
That sequence places Ouaddou on the brink of extending an impressive personal record. The coach has yet to lose an MTN8 match since taking charge and will be looking to preserve that unbeaten run in Saturday’s final.
Ouaddou joined Pirates from Marumo Gallants at the start of last season and has overseen a strong spell with the club. He has managed the Buccaneers in 55 competitive matches, winning 41, drawing nine and losing five.
The 47-year-old also made club history by becoming the first Pirates manager since Ruud Krol to win a domestic treble. Krol achieved that feat at the end of the 2010-11 season.
The final gives Pirates the opportunity to add another MTN8 medal to their collection, while Sundowns will be determined to prevent the champions from claiming a fifth consecutive title.
