MTN8: Mamelodi Sundowns beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 in Durban and bag 10 million rand

Mamelodi Sundowns won the MTN8 on Saturday, October 10, 2026, by beating Orlando Pirates 2-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, in front of a sold-out crowd, according to SuperSport and TimesLIVE. The Pretoria club thus puts an end to several years without a domestic trophy and deprives the Pirates of a streak that South African football believed was unstoppable.

Teboho Mokoena kicked off the evening in the 11th minute. Iqraam Rayners sealed the victory with a penalty earned in stoppage time, in the 90+4th minute, according to the SuperSport report. In between, the final turned in the 59th minute: Ronwen Williams saved a penalty from Gamphani Lungu, which would have brought the Pirates level. TimesLIVE named Tashreeq Matthews man of the match.

A domestic drought ended

For Sundowns, whom SuperSport presents as the CAF Champions League title holders, the wait had been long: the club had not won the MTN8 since 2021, and its last domestic trophy dated back to the Nedbank Cup in May 2022, TimesLIVE recalls. Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso secures his first domestic title with the Pretoria Brazilians.

The Pirates stopped in their tracks

On the other side, Orlando Pirates were the defending champions of the event. According to the Premier Soccer League, the Soweto club was aiming for a fifth consecutive title in this competition. Their season had already taken a demanding turn under the leadership of Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who arrived on the bench of one of the continent's most popular clubs; he leaves Durban with a lost final without having scored.

Ten million rand in the coffers

The winner bags an increased prize of 10 million rand, according to Briefly. In a league where television rights and cup bonuses weigh heavily on budgets, this check counts as much as the trophy: it funds recruitment, salaries, and continental travel, three areas where African clubs fight on unequal terms against European markets.

The Durban final also says something about the vitality of South African football: a full stadium on a Saturday night, two clubs with huge fanbases, a decisive international goalkeeper, and a bench managed by a coach from the north of the continent. Sundowns now returns to the South African league and its continental campaign, with the confidence of a team that has once again learned how to win finals at home.