Orlando Pirates have announced their starting line-up for the 2026 MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns at Moses Mabhida Stadium this evening.
The long wait is finally over; the biggest game of the first half of the season so far will take place in an unsettled KwaZulu-Natal province. The province has witnessed protests on the streets but that doesn’t stop the fight for the R10 million prize and trophy.
Pirates began their MTN8 journey against Durban City at Orlando Amstel Arena where they won 2-1 deep in the extra-time, with new man Ghampani Lungu scoring in the 120th minute. The Buccaneers made it look easy in the semi-final after defeating Sekhukhune United in both legs by 4-0 on aggregate.
The 14-time MTN8 winners have had a great start to the new season as they haven’t lost a single game, currently sitting second on the league table and also in the second round of the CAF Champions League.
Pirates have won the last two finals where they faced Sundowns. In 2023 they won 3-1 on penalties in the MTN8 final after a goalless 120 minutes; a year later they again defeated Sundowns 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup final in Nelspruit.
If Pirates win this evening they will equal Kaizer Chiefs’ record of 15 MTN8 trophies.
Here is how they line up:
Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Seema, Hotto, Sebelebele, Mbatha, Mokobodi, Selepe, Lungu, Moremi, Mbuthuma
Subs: Dladla, Zulu, Ndaba, Mthiyane, Masilela, Nkota, Kgotsitsile, Appollis, Makgopa