PIC: Lebohang Maboe of Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns are on course for a remarkable ninth Nedbank Cup semifinal in 17 years if they can get past second-tier University of Pretoria in their quarterfinal clash set for Friday, April 12 (KO 19h00).
The Brazilians, who are four-time winners of the Nedbank Cup since 2008, have already been to the last-4 at least in eight of the 16 previous seasons, or 50% of the time, which is a remarkable show of consistency.
No team can come close to matching that, with a quartet of sides next on the list with five semifinals appearances. Three you might expect, one perhaps not.
The Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates both have five semifinal appearances to their name since 2008, with Chiefs going on to lift the trophy on a single occasion and Pirates three times.

Chiefs cannot add to their tally, but Pirates can as they travel to AmaZulu for their quarterfinal clash this year against AmaZulu on Saturday, April 13 (KO 18h00). 

SuperSport United will go to six semifinal appearances if they beat Stellenbosch FC away in their last-8 clash on April 13 (KO 15h00).

They have made the semifinal on five previous occasions and gone on to win all but one (against Ajax Cape Town in 2015), claiming the trophy in 2012, 2016 and 2017.
They are seeking a semifinal place for the first time in seven years though having had a lean run in the Nedbank Cup.

The other club to have played in five semifinals is the now defunct Free State Stars, who suffered four losses at that stage of the competition in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2016, before finally claiming victory against Chiefs in 2018.

Stars went on to lift the trophy that year after they beat Maritzburg United in the final. 

There are a trio of clubs on three semifinal appearances, including two remaining in the quarterfinals this season.

AmaZulu made three semifinal appearances between 2008 and 2012 but haven’t managed it since. They will hope to upset Pirates.

Chippa United have three semifinals since 2017, winning one of those in 2021 when they lost to TTM in the final. They will face TS Galaxy for a place in the last-4 this season with that fixture to be played on Sunday, April 14 (KO 15h00).

Among the remaining quarterfinalists this year, University of Pretoria, TS Galaxy and Stellenbosch FC all have one previous semifinal appearance, the latter last year when they lost on penalties to Sekhukhune United.
Among the more surprising names on the semifinal list are Pretoria Callies, United FC and Vasco da Gama.

NEDBANK CUP SEMIFINALS SINCE 2008

8 – Mamelodi Sundowns

5 – Free State Stars, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United

3 – AmaZulu, Baroka FC, BidVest Wits, Chippa United

2 – Black Leopards, Cape Town Spurs (Ajax Cape Town), Lamontville Golden Arrows, Maritzburg United, Marumo Gallants, Mpumalanga Black Aces

1 – Bloemfontein Celtic, Moroka Swallows, Platinum Stars, Pretoria Callies, Royal AM, Sekhukhune United, Stellenbosch FC, TS Galaxy, TTM, United FC, University of Pretoria, Vasco da Gama