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.

Prize money

Past finals YearWinnerScoreRunner-upVenueWinning coachLife Challenge Cup1971Kaizer Chiefs (1)2–2Orlando Pirates 1972Kaizer Chiefs (2)4–1Zulu Royals 1973Orlando Pirates (1)5–2Zulu Royals 1974Orlando Pirates (2)1–0AmaZulu 1975Orlando Pirates (3)2–1Kaizer Chiefs Benson and Hedges Trophy1976Kaizer Chiefs (3)1–0Orlando Pirates 1977Kaizer Chiefs (4)1–0Orlando Pirates Mainstay Cup1978Wits University (1)3–2Kaizer Chiefs  Eddie Lewis1979Kaizer Chiefs (5)3–3Highlands Park FC  Mario Tuani1980Orlando Pirates (4)3–2Moroka Swallows 1981Kaizer Chiefs (6)1–1Orlando Pirates  Eliakim Khumalo1982Kaizer Chiefs (7)2–1African Wanderers 1983Moroka Swallows (1)1–0Witbank Black Aces  Mario Tuani1984Kaizer Chiefs (8)1–0Orlando Pirates  Joe Frickleton1985Bloemfontein Celtic (1)2–1African Wanderers  Dave Roberts1986Mamelodi Sundowns (1)1–0Jomo Cosmos  Stanley Tshabalala1987Kaizer Chiefs (9)1–0AmaZulu  Ted DumitruBob Save Super Bowl1988Orlando Pirates (5)2–1Kaizer Chiefs  Walter da Silva1989Moroka Swallows (2)1–1(5–1 replay)Mamelodi Sundowns  Eddie Lewis1990Jomo Cosmos (1)1–0AmaZulu  Roy Matthews1991Moroka Swallows (3)2–1Jomo Cosmos 1992Kaizer Chiefs (10)2–1Jomo Cosmos  Jeff Butler1993Witbank Black Aces (1)1–0Kaizer Chiefs  Johnny Ferreira 1994Vaal Professionals (1)1–0Qwa Qwa Stars  Simon Lehoko1995Cape Town Spurs (1)3–2Pretoria City  Mich d'Avray1996Orlando Pirates (6)1–0Jomo Cosmos Viktor Bondarenko1997Not played1998Mamelodi Sundowns (2)1–1Orlando Pirates  Ted Dumitru1999Supersport United (1)2–1Kaizer Chiefs  Roy Matthews2000Kaizer Chiefs (11)1–0Mamelodi Sundowns  Muhsin Ertugral2001Santos (1)1–0Mamelodi Sundowns  Clive Barker2002Not playedABSA Cup2003Santos (2)2–0Ajax Cape Town  Boebie Solomons2004Moroka Swallows (4)3–1Manning Rangers  Gavin Hunt2005Supersport United (2)1–0Wits University  Pitso Mosimane2006Kaizer Chiefs (12)0–0 (aet; 5–3 pen.)Orlando PiratesKings Park Stadium Ernst Middendorp2007Ajax Cape Town (2)2–0Mamelodi SundownsKings Park Stadium Muhsin ErtugralNedbank Cup2008Mamelodi Sundowns (3)1–0Mpumalanga Black AcesJohannesburg Stadium Trott Moloto2008–09Moroka Swallows (5)1–0Pretoria UniversityRand Stadium Júlio César Leal2009–10Bidvest Wits (2)3–0AmaZuluSoccer City Roger De Sá2010–11Orlando Pirates (7)3–1Black LeopardsMbombela Stadium Ruud Krol2011–12Supersport United (3)2–0Mamelodi SundownsOrlando Stadium Gavin Hunt2012–13Kaizer Chiefs (13)1–0Supersport UnitedMoses Mabhida Stadium Stuart Baxter2013–14Orlando Pirates (8)3–1Bidvest WitsMoses Mabhida Stadium Vladimir Vermezović2014–15Mamelodi Sundowns (4)0–0 (aet; 4–3 pen.)Ajax Cape TownNelson Mandela Bay Stadium Pitso Mosimane2015–16Supersport United (4)3–2Orlando PiratesPeter Mokaba Stadium Stuart Baxter2016–17Supersport United (5)4–1Orlando PiratesMoses Mabhida Stadium Stuart Baxter2017–18Free State Stars (1)1–0Maritzburg UnitedCape Town Stadium Luc Eymael2018–19TS Galaxy (1)1–0Kaizer ChiefsMoses Mabhida Stadium Dan Malesela2019–20Mamelodi Sundowns (5)1–0Bloemfontein CelticOrlando Stadium Pitso Mosimane2020–21Tshakhuma (1)1–0Chippa UnitedFree State Stadium Dylan Kerr2021–22Mamelodi Sundowns (6)2–1 (aet)Marumo GallantsRoyal Bafokeng Stadium Manqoba Mngqithi & Rulani Mokwena2022–23Orlando Pirates (9)2–1Sekhukhune UnitedLoftus Versfeld Stadium José Riveiro2023–24Orlando Pirates (10)2–1Mamelodi SundownsMbombela Stadium José Riveiro2024–25Kaizer Chiefs (14)2–1 Orlando PiratesMoses Mabhida Stadium Nasreddine Nabi2025–26Durban City (1)2–1TS GalaxyPeter Mokaba Stadium Pitso Dladla

Results by team +Results by team Club Wins First final won Last final won Runners-up Last final lost Total final appearancesKaizer Chiefs14197120255201919Orlando Pirates101973202410202520Mamelodi Sundowns6198620226202412Moroka Swallows519832009119806SuperSport United519992017120136Wits University219782010220144Cape Town Spurs / Ajax Cape Town219952007220154Santos2200120030 -2Jomo Cosmos119901990419965Witbank Black Aces119931993119832Free State Stars / Qwa Qwa Stars120182018119942Bloemfontein Celtic119851985120202Durban City / Maritzburg United120262026120182TS Galaxy120192019120262Tshakhuma1202120210—1Vaal Professionals1199419940—1Amazulu0——620106African Wanderers0——219852Black Leopards0——120111Chippa United0——120211Highlands Park FC0——119791Manning Rangers0——120041Marumo Gallants0——120221Mpumalanga Black Aces0——120081Pretoria City0——119951Pretoria University0——120091

References

External links Nedbank Cup official website RSSSF competition history