Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has confirmed that Sihle Nduli is ruled out for the remainder of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.
Nduli has been sidelined at Pirates due to an injury setback that he suffered in the first round of the campaign. The talented midfielder is in his first season with the Soweto giants after signing in July 2025 from Stellenbosch FC.
The former TS Galaxy star joined Pirates on a free transfer after his contract at Stellies ended, and he opted against renewing it to pursue a new career path in Gauteng.
Nduli arrived at Pirates and quickly established himself as a fan-favourite with his commanding performances in the middle of the park. The defensive midfielder has made 18 appearances across all competitions for Pirates under the guidance of Ouaddou.
OUADDOU REVEALS THAT NDULI WILL BE OUT FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON
Nduli was a key figure for the Buccaneers when they won the 2025 MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup titles in the first-half of the season. But his season has been cut short after sustaining a long-term injury.
Having missed all the matches in the second round of the season, Ouaddou has admitted that Nduli is unlikely to return to the matchday squad until the end of the campaign.
“Sihle Nduli is coming back step by step, he’s on the rehabilitation. We can see that he’s starting step by step to jog,” Ouaddou said. “So it’s good news for us to see him on the pitch at least, because we saw him most of the time in the treatment room.
“But now, we’re starting to see him on the pitch, which is good news. I don’t think he will come back before the end of the season because this injury needs good rehabilitation,” the former Marumo Gallants mentor added.
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