The ‘Cup of Dreams’ lived up to its reputation this past weekend as giants Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates were sent packing in the Nedbank Cup Round of 16. Their shocking exits have cleared the way for a fascinating set of quarter-final matchups.
The draw took place on Monday, February 23rd, at the SuperSport studios in Randburg and was broadcast live on SuperSport channel 202.
As the dust settled on the Last 16, the final eight teams discovered their fate in one of the most diverse matchups in the competition’s history, featuring five top-flight clubs, two from the Motsepe Foundation Championship, and one historic representative from the amateur ranks [ABC Motsepe League].
The teams that qualified for the last eight are Durban City FC, AmaZulu FC, Golden Arrows, Casric Stars, TS Galaxy, Sekhukhune United, Jacksa Spears, and Milford FC.
KZN WELL REPRESENTED IN THE NEDBANK CUP QUARTER-FINALS
KwaZulu-Natal is the most heavily represented province in the Last Eight, with AmaZulu, Arrows, Durban City, and Milford all remaining in the draw.
Meanwhile, Jacksa Spears have written their names into the South African football history books, as they defeated CR Vasco Da Gama 1-0 over the weekend. They became another amateur side in history to reach this stage, following in the footsteps of legendary giant-killers like the now-defunct Dondol Stars.
As a result, every top-flight coach will be hoping to avoid them—not because of their stature, but because of the magic of the cup they currently carry, known as the “Cup of Dreams.”
On the other hand, Casric are the talk of the town after dumping the Buccaneers out of the competition. Following a grueling 0-0 draw after extra time, Stars held their nerve to win 5-4 on penalties.
Similarly, the Rockets shocked many South African football fanatics by clinically dismantling Masandawana 2-0 at home on Saturday.
Sekhukhune, who were the 2023 finalists—now under the guidance of Eric Tinkler—secured their spot in the quarter-finals courtesy of Vuyo Letlapa’s stunning “birthday rocket” from distance against AmaTuks on Sunday at Tuks Stadium.
THE DRAW PROCEDURE BY THE PSL
The quarter-final draw followed an unseeded format, with all eight clubs placed into a single pot. In each pairing, the first team drawn earned home-ground advantage, while the second was designated as the visiting side.
This process continued until all fixtures were finalised. With the traditional “Big Three” notably absent from the hat this year, the draw has cleared a unique path for a new era of contenders to fight for the title.
THE NEDBANK CUP QUARTER-FINALS FULL DRAW
AmaZulu FC v Casric Stars
Sekhukhune United v Milford FC
TS Galaxy v Jacksa Spears
Golden Arrows v Durban City FC
The quarter-finals fixtures will be played on the weekend of the 7th and 8th of March 2026. However, the PSL will announce the venues and kick off times for the fixtures in due course.
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