Orlando Pirates secured their place in the MTN8 semi-finals after a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over 10-man Durban City, with Ghampani Lungu scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time (iol.co.za). The match, held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, saw Pirates overcome a difficult challenge to progress in the tournament. The result keeps the club in contention for the title, with the MTN8 final set to be a key showdown in the South African football calendar.
The win came despite setbacks, including the injury of captain Nkosinathi Sibisi, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season following a collision during the match (thesouthafrican.com). Sibisi’s absence adds pressure on the team as they aim to defend their Wafa Wafa crown for the fifth consecutive year. Meanwhile, the rivalry with Mamelodi Sundowns continues to heat up, with Sundowns defender Aubrey Modiba vowing to take the MTN8 title from Pirates, following their recent league triumph (sundayworld.co.za). The stakes are high as both clubs prepare for the next stage of the competition.
