Orlando Pirates vs Mamelodi Sundowns: Preview, team news, time and where to watch MTN8 clash

Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates will renew their rivalry when they clash in the MTN8 semi-final first leg on Saturday.

Pirates are the host team but head into the sold-out match on the back of two league defeats which have brought pressure on coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

Being the defending champions, and looking to win a fourth title in a row, the spotlight is on Pirates who will also be eager to impress home supporters at Orlando Stadium.

Pirates vs Sundowns Form Guide

Pirates started their season with a 2-0 win over Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-final but back-to-back league defeats to Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants have taken away the optimism and now, there are questions on Ouaddou’s tactics and selection even this early in the season.

Meanwhile, Sundowns’ problems have been away from the pitch but on it, they have thrashed Richards Bay 4-0 in the MTN8 quarter-final although they started the PSL with a 1-1 draw against Chippa United before beating AmaZulu 2-0 in their second match.

Pirates vs Sundowns Head-to-head

Pirates have had an upper hand over Sundowns in the MTN8 in their recent meetings, with the Buccaneers beating the Brazilians in the 2023 final while they eliminated them from the 2022 semi-final after winning 3-0 in the second leg following a goalless draw in the first leg.

In the league, Pirates were thrashed 4-1 away by Sundowns last season but avenged with a 2-1 home win in the corresponding fixture.

Team news

Both teams come into the match with different sets of problems as while Pirates coach Ouaddou is facing questions over his selection and tactics, his counterpart Miguel Cardoso is grappling with the uncertain futures of some of his key players such Lucas Ribeiro, Khuliso Mudau and Peter Shalulile.

Shalulile has made the squad in the last two matches but Mudau and Ribeiro have been absent and will likely miss out on Saturday as well.

Meanwhile, Pirates will be without midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula, defenders Nkosinathi Sibisi and Olisa Ndah, who are nursing injuries, but Ouaddou left Sipho Mbule and Relebohile Mofokeng on the bench on Tuesday with an eye on Saturday’s game.

There is also a decision on whether to recall Tshegofatso Mabasa or stick with Boitumelo Radiopane who has been trusted by the Pirates coach to lead the line.

What have the two coaches said?

Cardoso is unfazed by Sundowns’ poor recent cup record against Pirates. He said: “It’s not really something I relate with regarding the past; I never look at the past, I just want to write the future and live the present in order to write the future. I was not even here when cups were played between the two teams.”

Meanwhile, Ouaddou is confident that Pirates will not have another negative result. “But what we can promise them is that we are going to bounce back and we are going to sweat on our shirt to try to represent the badge very well in the right way in order to bring them happiness – it’s only the beginning,” he said.

Time and where to watch

𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓_𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇

🏆 #MTN8 Semi-Final 1st Leg
🆚 @Masandawana
📅 Saturday,16 August 2025
🏟️ Orlando Stadium
🎫 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐔𝐓
⏲️ 15H00
📺 @SuperSportTV
📺 @Official_SABC1

⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/XJAZZUn1SB

— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) August 15, 2025

The match will kick off at 15:00 at Orlando Stadium and will be live on both SuperSport TV and SABC.

Pirates vs Sundowns Predicted Line-ups

Pirates: Chaine, Mashiloane, Hotto, Mbokazi, Seema, Nduli, Mbule, Maswanganyi, Appollis, Mofokeng, Radiopane

Sundowns: Williams, Mdunyelwa, Modiba, Cupido, Kekana, Mokoena, Allende, Adams Matthews, Arthur, Rayners