PIC: Vuyo Letlapa scored the winning goal for Sekhukhune United

Vuyo Letlapa scored the only goal of the game as Sekhukhune United edged the University of Pretoria 1-0 to book a quarter-final place in the 2026 Nedbank Cup at Tuks Stadium on Sunday, where they are joined by amateur side Jacksa Spears.

It is the second year in a row that Sekhukhune have made the last eight, having also been beaten finalists in 2023, and it took a superb strike to win the game.

Letlapa picked up the ball 35 yards from goal and arrowed a shot into the corner on 55 minutes for one of the goals of the campaign to date.

It was a deserved win for the Limpopo club, who largely dominated proceedings and ensured they would be the fifth top-flight side into the quarter-finals.

With defending champions Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns all already out of the competition, coach Eric Tinkler may feel this is their year.

Spears became just the fourth amateur side to reach the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals when they beat fellow ABC Motsepe League team CR Vasco da Gama 1-0 at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium.

Spears wrote their name into history thanks to Itumeleng Olyn’s 41st-minute winner, following in the footsteps of Baroka FC (2011), Summerfield Dynamos (2022) and Dondol Stars (2023) in making the last eight.

Baroka are the only third-tier team to have advanced to the semi-finals, when they famously defeated Kaizer Chiefs in the quarter-finals 15 years ago.

Spears have beaten two third-tier sides to make it this far, having dispatched FC Cardinals in the Last 32. Vasco’s cause was not helped by a red card after 53 minutes for captain Mogamat Bull.

Mkhambathi FC could not join them after they lost 3-0 to second-tier high-flyers Milford FC in a KwaZulu-Natal derby.

Mkhambathi held their opponents until midway through the second half, before Milford seized control of the contest.

Bulelani Sigomoshe gave them the lead on 67 minutes, netting for the second game running but his first in the Nedbank Cup.

Siphosethu Ndlabi added a second on 76 minutes, and when Tonny Mbunga scored his first goal in senior football on 88 minutes, the contest was over.

It is the first time Milford have won a Nedbank Cup game outright despite making the second round three years in a row, needing penalties and a bye in the past.

This will be their first visit to the quarter-finals, with that draw to take place on Monday at 19h00.

NEDBANK CUP LAST 16 RESULTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Richards Bay 0 AmaZulu 1 (Ekstein 54’)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Upington City 0 Durban City 0 – aet; Durban City won 2-0 on penalties

TS Galaxy 2 (Ngwenya 19’, Zindoga 32’pen) Mamelodi Sundowns 0

Lamontville Golden Arrows 1 (Van Rooi 66’)  Stellenbosch FC 0

Orlando Pirates 0 Casric Stars 0 – aet; Stars won 5-4 on penalties

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Milford FC 3 (Sigomoshe 67’, Ndlabi 76’, Mbunga 88’) Mkhambathi FC 0

Jacksa Spears 1 (Olyn 41’) CR Vasco da Gama 0

University of Pretoria 0 Sekhukhune United 1 (Letlapa 55’)

TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
Matches played: 24
Goals scored: 55

Goals per game: 2.29

Biggest victory: CR Vasco da Gama 4 Luthuli Brigades 1 (Last 32, February 6); TTM 1 Orlando Pirates 3 (Last 32, February 7); Army Rocket 0 Casric Stars 3 (Last 32, February 7); Lamontville Golden Arrows 3 Orbit College 0 (Last 32, February 8)

Most goals in a game: 6 – FC Cardinals 2 Jacksa Spears 4 (Last 32, February 7); Siwelele 3 Richards Bay 3 (Last 32, February 8)

GOALSCORERS

2 goals – TJ Diedericks (CR Vasco da Gama), Lundi Mahala (Richards Bay), Moeti Mofokeng (Jacksa Spears), Thuso Mogale (Casric Stars)
1 – Yannick Angoume (Hungry Lions), Andre de Jong (Orlando Pirates), Tauriq Dien (CR Vasco da Gama), Sede Dion (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Taariq Fielies (AmaZulu), Ibraheem Jabaar (Stellenbosch FC), Ofentse Kgosana (Casric Stars), Vuyo Letlapa (Sekhukhune United), Victor Letsoalo (TS Galaxy), Siphelele Luthuli (Siwelele), Grant Margeman (Siwelele), Sheldon Mashuge (Jacksa Spears), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), Ayabulela Maxwele (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates), Tonny Mbunga (Milford), Sifiso Mdluli (Milford FC), Kgotso Mizi (Cardinals), Ntshuxeko Mkhabela (Luthuli Brigades), Ntuthuko Mlotshwa (Lerumo Lions), Mpho Moake (Gomora United), Bradley Mojela (Sekhukhune United), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mehluleli Ndelu (Mkhambathi), Siphosethu Ndlabi (Milford), Sithembiso Ngobe (TTM), Siphamandla Ngwenya (TS Galaxy), Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (AmaZulu), Lebohang Nkaki (Polokwane City), Bongumusa Nkosi (University of Pretoria), Itumeleng Olyn (Jacksa Spears), Michel Phigeland (CR Vasco da Gama), Bokamoso Seretsi (Jacksa Spears), Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bulelani Sigomoshe (Milford), Flávio Silva (Kaizer Chiefs), Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC), Katleho Tshabalala (Cardinals), Thapelo Tshilo (SSU M17), Angelo van Rooi (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy), Xolani Zondo (Mkhambathi), Sbangani Zulu (Richards Bay)
Own goal – Thabani Zuke (Richards Bay)