We have reached the semi-final stage of the 2024-25 Nedbank Cup. Here are the previews and BetXchange odds for Sunday’s two matches.
Orlando Pirates VS Gallants
Sunday, 13 April – Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg
There are two clear favorites to win their respective Nedbank Cup semi-finals and reach the final.
Orlando Pirates are the two-time defending champions of this competition and are in the middle of an outstanding season. They sit second on the log in the Betway Premiership, 12 points behind Mamelodi Sundowns, but with three games in hand on the leaders. They are also through to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, meaning that an unthinkable treble is still on the table for the 2024-25 season.
They are heavy favorites on Sunday for a reason. Their opponents are Gallants, the team sitting twelfth in the Premiership, just three points ahead of the fifteenth-placed relegation playoff position. Their cup run has been a welcome break from their indifferent league form, though it is worth noting they have gone undefeated while winning two of their last three Premiership games.
Pirates are on an even better run of form. They are in the midst of their most successful campaign in at least a decade, showing defensive aptitude and grit to squeak past MC Alger 1-0 after two legs in their Champions League tie. Pirates are unbeaten in seven matches in all comps.
Interestingly, the last team to beat Pirates was Gallants on March 1. That match ended in a 2-0 win for the away side here, with former Pirates star Gabadinho Mhango scoring the game’s first goal.
I can’t see that result happening here. Take Pirates to win by two or more goals.
Mamelodi Sundowns VS Kaizer Chiefs
Sunday, 13 April – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Mamelodi Sundowns are in a strikingly similar position as Orlando Pirates. They are also through to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, while even with the number of games the Pirates have in hand, the South African Premiership is theirs to lose, given their position.
Their opponents on Sunday are a team that would love to end Sundowns treble dreams in Pretoria. Kaizer Chiefs have had a poor season by their standards. They sit eighth in the league and could fall as low as tenth should Chippa United and Golden Arrows win their games in hand.
Even so, this is rightly being billed as a clash of South African titans.
The similarities between Sundowns and Pirates extend to their 1-0 Champions League win over two legs, as they took down Tunisia’s dangerous Esperance. The local rivalry of this game will make it thrilling, especially given Sundowns treble bid.
Even more exciting is that it has been a decade since the Chiefs’ last trophy win. That is a shocking run for a team of their stature, and this semi-final means they are only two wins away from ending that drought.
If Sundays have the likes of Themba Zwae, Mothobi Mvala, an Lebo Mothiba back healthy then we should expect some rotation given the intense workload put on this squad.
While Sundawns are the favorites, I can see Kaizer Chiefs stealing this by the odd goal, perhaps even after extra time.
