Orlando Pirates will be up against a familiar foe in their bid to advance in the Carling Knockout when they host Sekhukhune United in the quarter-finals at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.

The iconic venue in Soweto hosts yet another showdown between the two sides, who have had a couple of tussles on its famous turf this season already. A spot in the semifinals is at stake this time around as both teams look to achieve one more high before the looming international break.

The home side has an opportunity to keep its title-defence on course as they encounter a side that has been granted another dig at detailing their cup ambitions.

The Challenge Ahead

Pirates and Sekhukhune each made a statement in the Round of 16, cruising into the last eight with convincing victories. The Buccaneers got their title defence off to a flying start with a 3-0 triumph over tournament debutants Milford, extending their winning run in the Carling Knockout to five matches, dating back to last season’s victorious campaign.

They go into their showdown with Babina Noko on the back of a similar run across competitions, having recorded wins in league and continental cup competition to stretch their streak to five matches. Their current run has been a show of defensive solidity along with many clinical displays up front as they racked up four consecutive clean sheets before conceding a rare goal in the hard-fought 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in last Saturday’s Soweto Derby.

That ability to get over the line is a trait they are determined to carry into their return to knockout football, where they face a different kind of challenge in a Sekhukhune side that will be eager to respond after their own solid streak came to an end recently.

Babina Noko had enjoyed a five-match unbeaten streak – their most consistent run of results so far this season – which ended in a 1-0 league defeat to Milford. They recorded three successive victories during that spell, which included their 3-1 triumph over Richards Bay in their Carling Knockout opener.

The result against the coastal side secured their first Carling Knockout quarter-final appearance since their debut campaign in 2023. Now setting their sights on a maiden semifinal berth, the Limpopo-based outfit face a formidable hurdle in a Pirates side with a proven pedigree in knockout competitions.

Cup football is however notorious for its unpredictability and both sides approach the weekend’s contest aware that past results count for little in determining the outcome.

What Was Said

Abdeslam Ouaddou (Orlando Pirates): This will be a very difficult game. We must be at our best to win.

Papi Zothwane (Sekhukhune United): You can’t dwell on the past based on what happened in our past results against Orlando Pirates. It’s a new game.

Head-to-Head

Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United have already crossed paths three times this season, with the Buccaneers coming out on top in all three encounters. These meetings included a two-legged MTN8 semifinal, as well as a Betway Premiership fixture, with Pirates maintaining a perfect record against their opponents.

Their cup history dates back to 2023, when the sides first met in the Nedbank Cup before renewing their rivalry in the MTN8. Pirates have enjoyed the upper hand in these knockout encounters, winning both single-match meetings and their most recent two-legged contest to maintain an unblemished record in cup competitions against Sekhukhune.

Their upcoming Carling Knockout clash will mark their first meeting in the competition, while their rivalry stretches back to 2021 when the Buccaneers registered the first of nine wins in 15 encounters with Babina Noko across competitions. The Limpopo outfit has meanwhile collected four victories over the Soweto Giants with their last two both occurring at Saturday’s venue.

TV Coverage and Ticket Info

The match is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport PSL and SABC 1. Supporters can also stay updated with the action as it happens by following live coverage and match updates across Orlando Pirates’ official social media platforms.

Tickets to attend the fixture are available online on OpenTickets.