Pirates v Sekhukhune tips: Bucs to reach the semis
Orlando Pirates are our pick to beat Sekhukhune United in 90 minutes. Bucs won all three August meetings without conceding and arrive after a seventh straight league win. Thapelo Mokobodi supplied both goals in the Soweto Derby, giving Sekhukhune another attacking runner to stop alongside Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi.
Orlando Pirates v Sekhukhune United. Saturday, 07 November 2026, 15:00 SAST. Carling Knockout. Orlando Stadium, Soweto.
Match comparison
| Focus | Recent performance | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| August meetings | Pirates won 1-0, 2-0 and 3-0 | Six goals scored, none conceded |
| Latest league games | Pirates beat Chiefs 2-1 | Sekhukhune lost 1-0 to Milford |
| Sekhukhune's last cup game | Beat Richards Bay 3-1 | Two substitutes scored |
Mokobodi gives Pirates another route to goal
Thapelo Mokobodi made the difference against Chiefs without scoring. His ball over the defence released Yanela Mbuthuma for the opener, then he ran through in the second half and squared for Tshepang Moremi to finish.
That second goal is the problem for Sekhukhune. Closing down the scorer alone would not have stopped it: Mokobodi had already broken into the space behind the defence before drawing Brandon Petersen and passing.
Pirates also created enough late chances to win by more than one. Moremi hit the frame of the goal and shot wide from another opening, while Evidence Makgopa fired over. Bucs were still finding room as Chiefs chased an equaliser.
Three August meetings went the same way
Pirates beat Sekhukhune 1-0 away in the MTN8 on 22 August, won their league meeting 2-0 three days later and completed the cup tie with a 3-0 home victory on 29 August.
Those wins came across two competitions and both venues. Sekhukhune failed to score in any of them, while Pirates increased their winning margin in each meeting.
The visitors' latest league result was a 1-0 defeat by Milford. Pirates, meanwhile, made it seven successive league wins against Chiefs. Sekhukhune need a substantial attacking improvement on both that Milford performance and their earlier meetings with Bucs.
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Sekhukhune can change the game from the bench
Their 3-1 cup win over Richards Bay offers a stronger attacking example. Chibuike Ohizu opened the scoring after a Nyiko Mobbie assist, before substitutes Thabang Makubo and Bethuel Muzeu added late goals.
Muzeu was involved in both of those late strikes, setting up Makubo before scoring himself. Coach Papi Zothwane therefore has a recent example of his changes improving the attack rather than simply replacing tired players.
There was still a lapse between those goals. Richards Bay scored a minute after Sekhukhune went 2-0 ahead, briefly putting the tie back in doubt. Pirates' speed through the middle makes that loss of concentration particularly costly here.
Back Bucs to finish it in normal time
Pirates did give Chiefs a way back into the derby when Sipho Chaine fumbled a low cross and Pule Mmodi equalised. Their August clean sheets against Sekhukhune do not remove the danger of a similar mistake.
The home side recovered by creating another clear opening, then continued threatening after taking the lead. That attacking response, together with three recent wins against this opponent, makes Pirates our selection to settle Saturday's quarter-final within 90 minutes.