MTN8 final: Pirates’ six survivors face Sundowns’ 11 from 2023

The MTN8 final returns to Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, October 10, bringing Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns back to the venue where they met in the 2023 decider.

Pirates won that final on penalties in front of a full stadium, and tickets for this year’s match sold out within hours of going on sale.

The clubs arrive with markedly different levels of continuity. Pirates have six players remaining from their 2023 matchday squad, while Sundowns still have 11 members of the group involved in that final.

Pirates were the defending champions when they travelled to Durban three years ago, while Sundowns had won the competition two years earlier. They will again enter the final as holders, seeking a fifth consecutive MTN8 title.

There has been a change in the technical area, with Abdeslam Ouaddou replacing Jose Riveiro as Pirates coach.

Only four players who started the 2023 final are still with the club: Sipho Chaine, Deon Hotto, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Tapelo Xoki. Evidence Makgopa and Makhehlene Makhaula, who were unused substitutes that night, also remain at Pirates.

Makgopa, Makhaula and Xoki have not played this season because of various injury-related problems. As a result, Chaine, Hotto and Sibisi are expected to start again.

The other starters from the 2023 Pirates team have since left. They are Kermit Erasmus, Zakhele Lepasa, Monnapule Saleng, Patrick Maswanganyi, Miguel Timm, Thabang Monare and Bandile Shandu.

The remaining substitutes from that final who are no longer at the club are Relebohile Mofokeng, Lesedi Kapinga, Richard Ofori, Olisa Ndah, Paseka Mako, Siphelo Baloni and Karim Kimvuidi.

Sundowns have also changed coaches since the previous meeting, moving from Rulani Mokwena to Manqoba Mngqithi and then Miguel Cardoso.

Eleven players from the 2023 Sundowns squad are still at the club. Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Marcelo Allende and Themba Zwane all started that final, while Denis Onyango, Grant Kekana, Sphelele Mkhulise and Siyabonga Mabena were also involved.

Williams, Modiba, Mokoena, Allende and Kekana are expected to feature, with Zwane and Mkhulise also possible selections for playing time.

The Sundowns players from the 2023 matchday squad who have since departed are Abdelmounaim Boutouil, Rivaldo Coetzee, Neo Maema, Peter Shalulile, Thapelo Maseko, Junior Mendieta, Bongani Zungu, Lebohang Maboe and Mosa Lebusa.