Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs were eliminated from the Nedbank Cup following a 2-1 Round of 32 defeat by Stellenbosch FC at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.
Having denied the Soweto giants the Carling Knockout in October 2025, Stellenbosch returned to haunt Chiefs again, interestingly at the same venue. After Wednesday’s result, Chiefs are now left with the Betway Premiership and CAF Confederation Cup to play for this season.
It was a crucial victory for Stellenbosch who recovered from last Sunday’s 3-0 home humiliation by CR Belouizdad in the Confederation Cup. The latest result also saw the Cape Winelands side ending Amakhosi’s four-match winning streak of 2026.
They are through to the Last-16 as coach Gavin Hunt fancies his chances of lifting some silverware with Stellenbosch. Surprisingly, Orlando Pirates loanee Tshegofatso Mabasa was not in the Maroons line-up. But defender Tabo Moloisane returned after missing the Belouizdad defeat.
Devin Titus, who came on as a substitute against the Algerian side, was back in the starting line-up, while Genino Palace was a substitute.
Chiefs coaches opted to make tweaks to a defence that had kept four straight clean sheets and picked three men as centre-backs. Zitha Kwinika and Dillan Solomons were sacrificed in a defensive shake-up which had Paseka Mako, Thabiso Monyane and Given Msimango starting.
Gaston Sirino also started for the first time in 2026, while Pule Mmodi, Lebohang Maboe and Glody Lilepo were named on the bench. This was despite the Congolese striker arriving in Cape Town against the backdrop of two goals in as many games prior to Wednesday’s encounter. Midfielder Thulani Mabaso was handed his debut start.
STELLENBOSCH STAMP AUTHORITY OVER CHIEFS EARLY
Fixing what was not broken at the back appeared to have cost Amakhosi. They struggled to defend a set piece and found themselves behind after 10 minutes. Flavio da Silva attempted to clear danger but kicked Moloisane in the face from inside the box to earn Stellenbosch a penalty.
Former Nigeria Under-17 midfielder Ibraheem Jabaar then stepped up to beat Amakhosi goalkeeper Brandon Petersen from the spot. A spectacular strike by Titus from outside the box 13 minutes later then doubled the home side’s advantage, leaving Chiefs with a huge comeback task.
An opportunity for Chiefs to reduce the arrears went begging in the 36th minute when Mduduzi Shabalala broke loose to come face-to-face with Stellenbosch goalkeeper Sage Steves, but the Amakhosi man was slow to execute as he opted to dribble and was blocked by his marker.
It underlined how Shabalala struggled to beat Stevens on three occasions in the first half, with the goalkeeper firm to frustrate the visitors from Gauteng.
After being introduced at the beginning of the second half, Lilepo came close but agonisingly watched his effort crash against the woodwork seven minutes after the restart.
RAY OF HOPE FOR CHIEFS BUT STILL FALL SHORT
Shortly after, Chiefs were handed a penalty when Mosa Lebusa handled Da Silva’s cross from inside the box and the Equatorial Guinea striker converted his kick on 56 minutes.
Langelihle Phiri could have extended Stellenbosch’s lead while only facing Petersen, but was let down by his first touch off a Wonderboy Makhubu feed. On the other hand, Lilepo’s strikes from distance were a threat to the home side.
Makhubu almost killed the match as a contest in stoppage time, but had Petersen denying him in a one-on-one situation.
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