Ex-Chiefs striker analyses where MTN8 final between Pirates & Downs will be won

Orlando Pirates are set to face Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday evening in the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

This is a massive game for the two clubs; the Soweto giants are aiming at winning the tournament for the fifth time in a raw while Masandawana are determined to secure that crown for the first time since 2021.

Both teams have quality and talented players explaining why it is going to be a tough fixture. Ex-Kaizer Chiefs striker, who also featured for Masandawana, has pointed where it will be won.

Both Pirates and Sundowns can perform

“I’m very hopeful it’s going to be an explosive encounter, and I’ll tell you why. Both these teams are very good in a once-off situation. In other words, cup games,” Niemach told FARPost.

“They both can perform. You have seen Sundowns winning that cup [FIFA African-Asia-Pacific Cup], even at the Club World Cup. They are very good in one-game situations.

🚨𝙂 𝘼 𝙈 𝙀 𝘿 𝘼 𝙔🚨

🆚 Orlando Pirates
⏰ 18H00
🏟 Moses Mabhida Stadium
📺 SS 202 & SABC 1
🎟️ SOLD OUT! No tickets will be sold at stadium. Ticket Holders encouraged to arrive early.#Sundowns #MTN8 #NeverStopRising pic.twitter.com/kgp1jb1YTT

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) October 10, 2026

“So, this is going to be a very interesting tie. I think tactical acumen will be stretched as far as the coaches are concerned. They are going to look to nullify each other and not allow the other to have room to play and operate.

“But I still hope it’s not going to be the case but a showcase of South African football. It’s not about this cup, it’s about the rest of the season, bragging rights, history and many things,” he added.

Where will it be won?

“Between these two clubs there is a rich history. It’s a clash of giants, so I do suspect that both coaches will look to not concede in the first half. Maybe go for it in the last 20. That’s a possibility. Or if they come out of the gates early on and give a nice, expensive game head-to-head, that will be nice in terms of entertainment value. But then the coaches want to win the cup, so who is going to be the Minister of Defence?

“We’ll only see that on the day of the game, when either coach announces his team and how he sets it out for the game. Whether he is going to play with four at the back, three in front or one striker, because one might consider that this is a cup match and play one striker to catch on the break,” Niemach further stated

“So if you don’t concede, you will have one hand on the cup. But there are many ways to look at this and dissect it. So let’s see what they do. We will know on the day of the game. 

“It is entirely possible [that the best defensive set-up might win the game]. You know football is about space and time. So if both teams set out their teams to ensure that they limit space and time, that means the other team does not have control. The biggest thing to watch for here is possession. How much possession are they willing to fight for?” Niemach he concluded