STATS: MTN8 Final Preview

Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch will battle for MTN8 supremacy at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Pirates will be looking to achieve the first-ever three-peat in the Top 8 competition, as no team has ever won it three times in a row since its inception 50 years ago. Meanwhile, Stellenbosch will be aiming for their first-ever Top 8 win. These two teams are regarded as the second and third best in the country, behind the 73-point champions, Sundowns. Despite the gap in the league, both sides have been exemplary in Cup competitions over the last few years.

⅚ – Five of the last six domestic finals have featured either Orlando Pirates or Stellenbosch.

Form

Both teams have played more games than any other PSL side so far this season. Due to their early involvement in CAF preliminaries, they have been traveling and playing competitive football for most of the last two months. Their fitness and conditioning “advantage” could be a factor in their success in this competition. While other teams have only played three matches across competitions this season (depending on their qualification), Pirates and Stellenbosch have already clocked 10 matches. Still, when it comes to form, Pirates have the edge as Stellenbosch have stumbled recently, winning just one of their last four games.

6 – Pirates have won their last six games across all competitions for the second time under José Riveiro (including seven straight wins in May), becoming the first coach to achieve this twice for the club in the PSL era.

Head-to-Head

The two teams have faced each other consistently since Stellenbosch’s promotion in 2019. Last season, both sides finished with 50 points, separated only by goal difference—a sign of how closely matched they are. In last season’s two-legged MTN8 semi-final, Pirates won the first leg 2-1 but lost the second leg 1-0, progressing on away goals. In their December league clash, Pirates led 2-0 before Stellenbosch made a miraculous comeback to win 3-2. Based on recent results, Stellenbosch hold the advantage in head-to-head encounters.

¾ – Stellenbosch have won three of the last four games against Orlando Pirates, losing the other one. Before this, they had only won one of the previous nine meetings.

Key Players

The key factor in this match could be the absence of some players. Pirates signed Deano van Rooyen in the off-season, but he is Cup-tied and will not feature for Stellenbosch. The decision on who will replace him could be crucial. Pirates may also be without Monnapule Saleng and Olisa Ndah, which could disrupt their plans. However, key players such as Deon Hotto, Patrick Maswanganyi, and Tshegofatso Mabasa will be important for Pirates, while strong performances from Jayden Adams, Fawaaz Basadien, and Olivier Toure could swing things in Stellenbosch’s favor. The two goalkeepers, Sage Stephens and Sipho Chaine, have been exceptional this season and could be decisive—whether or not the match goes to penalties.

41 – Sage Stephens and Sipho Chaine have faced more shots than any other goalkeeper in the MTN8 this season (41), and are ranked second and third for save percentage.