# Nedbank Cup

The Nedbank Cup is the current name of South Africa's premier club soccer knockout tournament. While many formats have been used over the years, the tournament has always been based on the idea of giving lower league and amateur teams a chance to compete with clubs from the top league for the cup. The tournament is based on the English FA Cup, which has become known for "giant killings" (lower league clubs defeating a top-flight club).

## History

The tournament was started in 1971 as the Life Challenge Cup, this name stayed in place until 1975. In 1976 and 1977, the tournament was known as the Benson and Hedges Trophy. From 1978 until 1987 the tournament was known as the Mainstay Cup. In 1988 the sponsorship was taken over by First National Bank, and was renamed the Bob Save Super Bowl. This name remained until 2001, however the tournament was not played in 1997. The tournament was again not played in 2002. The competition was then sponsored by ABSA between 2003 and 2007, and known as the ABSA Cup. Nedbank took over the sponsorship in 2008, and renamed the tournament the Nedbank Cup.

## Format

The current format sees the 16 Premiership clubs, eight National First Division (NFD) teams, as well as eight teams from the amateur ranks enter the main draw of 32 teams. The Premiership teams enter the main draw automatically, while the NFD clubs need to play a single qualifier against other NFD clubs. The amateur teams go through a series of qualifiers to enter the main draw.
From the round of 32 onwards, teams are not seeded, and the first sides drawn receive home-ground advantage. There are no longer any replays in the tournament, and any games which end in a draw after 90 minutes are subject to 30 minutes extra time followed by penalties if necessary.
The winners receive prize money of R7 million. The winner also qualifies for the next season's CAF Confederation Cup.

## Past finals

| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue | Winning coach |
| Life Challenge Cup ||||||
| 1971 | Kaizer Chiefs (1) | 2–2 | Orlando Pirates | | |
| 1972 | Kaizer Chiefs (2) | 4–1 | Zulu Royals | | |
| 1973 | Orlando Pirates (1) | 5–2 | Zulu Royals | | |
| 1974 | Orlando Pirates (2) | 1–0 | AmaZulu | | |
| 1975 | Orlando Pirates (3) | 2–1 | Kaizer Chiefs | | |
| Benson and Hedges Trophy ||||||
| 1976 | Kaizer Chiefs (3) | 1–0 | Orlando Pirates | | |
| 1977 | Kaizer Chiefs (4) | 1–0 | Orlando Pirates | | |
| Mainstay Cup ||||||
| 1978 | Wits University (1) | 3–2 | Kaizer Chiefs | | Eddie Lewis |
| 1979 | Kaizer Chiefs (5) | 3–3 | Highlands Park FC | | Mario Tuani |
| 1980 | Orlando Pirates (4) | 3–2 | Moroka Swallows | | |
| 1981 | Kaizer Chiefs (6) | 1–1 | Orlando Pirates | | Eliakim Khumalo |
| 1982 | Kaizer Chiefs (7) | 2–1 | African Wanderers | | |
| 1983 | Moroka Swallows (1) | 1–0 | Witbank Black Aces | | Mario Tuani |
| 1984 | Kaizer Chiefs (8) | 1–0 | Orlando Pirates | | Joe Frickleton |
| 1985 | Bloemfontein Celtic (1) | 2–1 | African Wanderers | | Dave Roberts |
| 1986 | Mamelodi Sundowns (1) | 1–0 | Jomo Cosmos | | Stanley Tshabalala |
| 1987 | Kaizer Chiefs (9) | 1–0 | AmaZulu | | Ted Dumitru |
| Bob Save Super Bowl ||||||
| 1988 | Orlando Pirates (5) | 2–1 | Kaizer Chiefs | | Walter da Silva |
| 1989 | Moroka Swallows (2) | 1–1 | Mamelodi Sundowns | | Eddie Lewis |
| 1990 | Jomo Cosmos (1) | 1–0 | AmaZulu | | Roy Matthews |
| 1991 | Moroka Swallows (3) | 2–1 | Jomo Cosmos | | |
| 1992 | Kaizer Chiefs (10) | 2–1 | Jomo Cosmos | | Jeff Butler |
| 1993 | Witbank Black Aces (1) | 1–0 | Kaizer Chiefs | | Johnny Ferreira |
| 1994 | Vaal Professionals (1) | 1–0 | Qwa Qwa Stars | | Simon Lehoko |
| 1995 | Cape Town Spurs (1) | 3–2 | Pretoria City | | Mich d'Avray |
| 1996 | Orlando Pirates (6) | 1–0 | Jomo Cosmos | | Viktor Bondarenko |
| 1997 | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played |
| 1998 | Mamelodi Sundowns (2) | 1–1 | Orlando Pirates | | Ted Dumitru |
| 1999 | Supersport United (1) | 2–1 | Kaizer Chiefs | | Roy Matthews |
| 2000 | Kaizer Chiefs (11) | 1–0 | Mamelodi Sundowns | | Muhsin Ertugral |
| 2001 | Santos (1) | 1–0 | Mamelodi Sundowns | | Clive Barker |
| 2002 | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played | Not played |
| ABSA Cup ||||||
| 2003 | Santos (2) | 2–0 | Ajax Cape Town | | Boebie Solomons |
| 2004 | Moroka Swallows (4) | 3–1 | Manning Rangers | | Gavin Hunt |
| 2005 | Supersport United (2) | 1–0 | Wits University | | Pitso Mosimane |
| 2006 | Kaizer Chiefs (12) | 0–0 (aet; 5–3 pen.) | Orlando Pirates | Kings Park Stadium | Ernst Middendorp |
| 2007 | Ajax Cape Town (2) | 2–0 | Mamelodi Sundowns | Kings Park Stadium | Muhsin Ertugral |
| Nedbank Cup ||||||
| 2008 | Mamelodi Sundowns (3) | 1–0 | Mpumalanga Black Aces | Johannesburg Stadium | Trott Moloto |
| 2008–09 | Moroka Swallows (5) | 1–0 | Pretoria University | Rand Stadium | Júlio César Leal |
| 2009–10 | Bidvest Wits (2) | 3–0 | AmaZulu | Soccer City | Roger De Sá |
| 2010–11 | Orlando Pirates (7) | 3–1 | Black Leopards | Mbombela Stadium | Ruud Krol |
| 2011–12 | Supersport United (3) | 2–0 | Mamelodi Sundowns | Orlando Stadium | Gavin Hunt |
| 2012–13 | Kaizer Chiefs (13) | 1–0 | Supersport United | Moses Mabhida Stadium | Stuart Baxter |
| 2013–14 | Orlando Pirates (8) | 3–1 | Bidvest Wits | Moses Mabhida Stadium | Vladimir Vermezović |
| 2014–15 | Mamelodi Sundowns (4) | 0–0 (aet; 4–3 pen.) | Ajax Cape Town | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | Pitso Mosimane |
| 2015–16 | Supersport United (4) | 3–2 | Orlando Pirates | Peter Mokaba Stadium | Stuart Baxter |
| 2016–17 | Supersport United (5) | 4–1 | Orlando Pirates | Moses Mabhida Stadium | Stuart Baxter |
| 2017–18 | Free State Stars (1) | 1–0 | Maritzburg United | Cape Town Stadium | Luc Eymael |
| 2018–19 | TS Galaxy (1) | 1–0 | Kaizer Chiefs | Moses Mabhida Stadium | Dan Malesela |
| 2019–20 | Mamelodi Sundowns (5) | 1–0 | Bloemfontein Celtic | Orlando Stadium | Pitso Mosimane |
| 2020–21 | Tshakhuma (1) | 1–0 | Chippa United | Free State Stadium | Dylan Kerr |
| 2021–22 | Mamelodi Sundowns (6) | 2–1 (aet) | Marumo Gallants | Royal Bafokeng Stadium | Manqoba Mngqithi & Rulani Mokwena |
| 2022–23 | Orlando Pirates (9) | 2–1 | Sekhukhune United | Loftus Versfeld Stadium | José Riveiro |
| 2023–24 | Orlando Pirates (10) | 2–1 | Mamelodi Sundowns | Mbombela Stadium | José Riveiro |

## Results by team

Results by team :
| Club | Wins | First final won | Last final won | Runners-up | Last final lost | Total final appearances |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 13 | 1971 | 2013 | 5 | 2019 | 18 |
| Orlando Pirates | 10 | 1973 | 2024 | 9 | 2017 | 18 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 6 | 1986 | 2022 | 6 | 2024 | 12 |
| Moroka Swallows | 5 | 1983 | 2009 | 1 | 1980 | 6 |
| SuperSport United | 5 | 1999 | 2017 | 1 | 2013 | 6 |
| Wits University | 2 | 1978 | 2010 | 2 | 2014 | 4 |
| Cape Town Spurs / Ajax Cape Town | 2 | 1995 | 2007 | 2 | 2015 | 4 |
| Santos | 2 | 2001 | 2003 | 0 | - | 2 |
| Jomo Cosmos | 1 | 1990 | 1990 | 4 | 1996 | 5 |
| Witbank Black Aces | 1 | 1993 | 1993 | 1 | 1983 | 2 |
| Free State Stars / Qwa Qwa Stars | 1 | 2018 | 2018 | 1 | 1994 | 2 |
| Bloemfontein Celtic | 1 | 1985 | 1985 | 1 | 2020 | 2 |
| TS Galaxy | 1 | 2019 | 2019 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Tshakhuma | 1 | 2021 | 2021 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Vaal Professionals | 1 | 1994 | 1994 | 0 | — | 1 |
| Amazulu | 0 | — | — | 6 | 2010 | 6 |
| African Wanderers | 0 | — | — | 2 | 1985 | 2 |
| Black Leopards | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2011 | 1 |
| Chippa United | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2021 | 1 |
| Highlands Park FC | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1979 | 1 |
| Manning Rangers | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2004 | 1 |
| Maritzburg United | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2018 | 1 |
| Marumo Gallants | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2022 | 1 |
| Mpumalanga Black Aces | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2008 | 1 |
| Pretoria City | 0 | — | — | 1 | 1995 | 1 |
| Pretoria University | 0 | — | — | 1 | 2009 | 1 |