PIC: The Mbombela Stadium played host to the 2024 Nedbank Cup final

One of the features of the Nedbank Cup since 2008 is how the prestigious final of the competition has been staged around South Africa over the previous 18 editions, with the showpiece game taken to fans across the country.
There have been 12 different venues used for a Nedbank Cup final in the previous 18 years of the competition.
The final this year falls on May 2 and, while we await the venue, it is worth looking back at where it has been played in the past.
The magnificent Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban has been the most-used venue, hosting the final five times, including last year when Kaizer Chiefs edged Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates in the decider.
It was first used in 2013 when Chiefs edged SuperSport United 1-0 in extra time thanks to Bernard Parker’s long-range strike.
The following year Pirates defeated BidVest Wits 3-1 in the 2014 final, but then lost 4-1 to SuperSport United at the venue in 2017.
Second-tier TS Galaxy shocked Chiefs with a 1-0 win in Durban in 2019, while AmaKhosi banished those memories with victory over Pirates last season.
The only other stadia to host multiple finals are Orlando Stadium and Mbombela Stadium.
Orlando Stadium hosted the 2012 decider as SuperSport United defeated Mamelodi Sundowns. The final was staged there again in 2020 during the Gauteng bio-bubble enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this time Sundowns defeated Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0.
Mbombela Stadium was first used in 2011 as Pirates defeated second-tier Black Leopards 3-1, and then again in 2024 when Pirates edged Sundowns 2-1.
The year after that, Loftus Stadium in Pretoria saw the Buccaneers beat Sekhukhune United 2-1, and in 2022 the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng in the North West province was used as Sundowns defeated Marumo Gallants by the same scoreline.
The first final in 2008 was another win for Sundowns as they beat second-tier Mpumalanga Black Aces at Johannesburg Stadium, and in 2009 Rand Stadium played host as Moroka Swallows defeated another lower-league side, University of Pretoria.
In 2010, the newly rebuilt FNB Stadium played host to BidVest Wits against AmaZulu, with the former winning 3-0.
It was a match to showcase the new venue and South Africa’s readiness for the FIFA World Cup that was to be played that year.
There is just one 2010 World Cup venue that has not yet hosted the Nedbank Cup decider since 2008 – Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Other finals have been played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (2015), Peter Mokaba Stadium (2016), Cape Town Stadium (2018) and Free State Stadium (2021).

NEDBANK CUP FINAL VENUES 

2008 - Johannesburg Stadium

2009 - Rand Stadium

2010 - FNB Stadium

2011 - Mbombela Stadium

2012 - Orlando Stadium

2013 - Moses Mabhida Stadium

2014 - Moses Mabhida Stadium

2015 - Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

2016 - Peter Mokaba Stadium

2017 - Moses Mabhida Stadium

2018 - Cape Town Stadium

2019 - Moses Mabhida Stadium

2020 - Orlando Stadium

2021 - Free State Stadium

2022 - Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace

2023 - Loftus Stadium

2024 - Mbombela Stadium

2025 - Moses Mabhida Stadium