Soccer
Stellies send champions Amakhosi crashing out─── MORGAN PIEK 09:27 Thu, 05 Feb 2026
The 2026 Nedbank Cup produced its first major shock on Wednesday night, as defending champions Kaizer Chiefs made a dramatic early exit in the opening round.
The mighty Amakhosi were dumped out in the Round of 32 after a somewhat surprising 2–1 defeat to a fired-up Stellenbosch FC at a buzzing Cape Town Stadium. First-half goals from Ibraheem Jabaar and Devin Titus proved decisive as Gavin Hunt’s resurgent Stellies booked their place in the Round of 16.
Chiefs did manage to pull one back late in the second half, but it was too little, too late for the Glamour Boys.
Devin Titus (left) against Marumo Gallants. Photo: Morgan Piek
An action-packed opening stanza saw both sides create early chances. Gaston Sirino fired wide in just the second minute, before Chumani Butsaka and Flavio Silva both failed to hit the target with headed efforts at the other end.
The hosts were handed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock after 10 minutes when Silva caught Thabo Moloisane with a high boot inside the area. Jabaar kept his nerve on an emotional night to calmly convert the resulting penalty.
Chiefs almost hit back immediately, but Sage Stephens stood tall between the posts for the Maroons, denying Mduduzi Shabalala in a one-on-one situation in the 17th minute.
Brandon Petersen. Photo: Morgan Piek
Stellenbosch struck again just five minutes later. There was nothing the Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen could do as Titus pounced on a loose ball outside the box before unleashing a thunderous strike into the top left corner.
That goal gave Stellies a commanding 2–0 lead at the break in the Mother City.
The visitors were thrown a lifeline eleven minutes into the second stanza when Mosa Lebusa handled the ball inside the area, conceding a penalty that Silva duly slotted home to reduce the deficit.
Flavio Silva. Photo: Morgan Piek
Stellenbosch nearly restored their two-goal cushion on 65 minutes as substitute Langelihle Phili looked to make an instant impact, but Petersen produced a cracking save to keep Chiefs in the contest.
The Soweto giants threw everything forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages as the Maroons dropped deeper-and-deeper, but the damage had already been done, and the defending champions bowed out of the competition.
In Wednesday’s other fixture, Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns advanced to the Round of 16, but not without a scare, after edging National First Division side Gomora FC 2–1 at Loftus Versfeld.
Peter Shalulile. Photo: Morgan Piek
The Brazilians took the lead in the 41st minute through Namibian international Peter Shalulile. However, on the stroke of half-time, Mpho Maoke pressed aggressively, dispossessed Malibongwe Khoza on the edge of the area and slotted home to draw Gomora level against all odds.
Sundowns eventually found the winner in the 62nd minute, with former Bloemfontein Celtic and Bafana Bafana midfielder Thapelo Morena scoring the goal that sealed their progression.
Looking ahead to Friday’s action, Durban City will host Chippa United at Chatsworth Stadium, while in Cape Town, Vasco da Gama face the Luthuli Brigades at Athlone Stadium. Both matches kick off at 19:00.
