MTN8 final: Junior Khanye questions Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns penalty decisions

iDiski TV analyst Junior Khanye has criticised referee Abongile Tom’s decisions to award two penalties during the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns in Durban on Saturday.

Khanye said neither incident warranted a spot-kick after Sundowns won the Wafa Wafa Cup with a 2-0 victory. Teboho Mokoena scored in the first half, while Iqraam Rayners converted a penalty in injury time to secure the trophy and end Orlando Pirates’ dominance in the competition.

The first penalty was awarded to Orlando Pirates in the 60th minute, when Mokoena appeared to bring down Yanela Mbuthuma inside the Sundowns penalty area.

Ghampani Lungu’s effort was saved by Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. The stop denied Orlando Pirates an opportunity to equalise and changed the course of a match in which the Buccaneers had enjoyed control for long periods.

Tom later pointed to the spot at the other end after Thapelo Mokobodi appeared to foul Siyanda Ndlovu in the box. Rayners made no mistake from 12 yards, giving Sundowns a decisive advantage and confirming their victory.

Khanye described both decisions as soft and questioned whether either challenge met the threshold for a penalty.

“Referees sometimes ruin a game because for me I don’t think both penalties were actual penalties,” Khanye said on iDiski TV.

“The Orlando Pirates penalty and Skwish’s they were not penalties according to me. The first one was soft for me, I mean the ball was played, there was a bit of a stretch from Tebza but not that much of a push.

“Even if the incident happened outside the box, I wouldn’t have given a foul. To me it was too soft.”

Khanye also rejected the decision to award Sundowns a penalty late in the match, arguing that Ndlovu had lost possession rather than been obstructed.

“The second one was also soft. I don’t understand why it was a penalty because Ndlovu lost the ball he wasn’t obstructed; he lost the ball. The opponent saw him and read the situation and then when he ran to the ball he fell and there was a bit of a contact.

“I can’t say that was a penalty. I think the referee was trying to rectify his blunder from the first penalty.”

Khanye’s full analysis of the 2026 MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns is available on the iDiski TV official YouTube channel.