PIC: Siyethemba Sithebe of Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs have booked a first Nedbank Cup semifinal since 2019 with a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over Royal AM at a packed Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday and will now face Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates in the Last 4.
In the other semifinal Stellenbosch FC will host Sekhukhune United with one of those sides set for a first ever Nedbank Cup decider. 
The AmaKhosi had to come from behind in the game against a fired-up Royal AM, who were semifinalists last year but could not repeat that feat.

Substitute Lesego Manganyi, on the pitch early for the injured Happy Jele, headed Royal Am in front as he glanced a set-piece into the net on 28 minutes.
Chiefs were level in bizarre circumstances as former Orlando Pirates defender Thabo Matlaba sent a looping header from 20-yards into his own net before halftime.
The match went to extra-time and it was Chiefs who triumphed as Yusuf Maart struck home a penalty off the underside of the crossbar to give them the 2-1 advantage they held onto for the remainder of the game. 
Chiefs have not lifted the Nedbank Cup since 2013 and have not claimed any trophy at all in the past eight years – famously losing the 2019 Nedbank Cup decider to then second-tier TS Galaxy.

Sekhukhune United sealed a first ever semifinal appearance after a fast start away at Chippa United, winning 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Elias Mokwana gave Sekhukhune the lead inside 40 seconds, the fastest goal of the 2023 Nedbank Cup and one of the quickest ever in the competition.
Chippa failed to clear the ball in the box and Mokwana slipped the ball into the net from a tight angle to score his second goal of the season.
Chippa’s Nigerian forward Etiosa Ighodaro is having a fine campaign and netted a 10^th goal in all competitions to draw the hosts level as he headed home when the visitors failed to clear a corner.

But Sekhukhune were back ahead before the break following a strike from their own Nigerian forward Chibuike Ohizu as he headed into the roof of the net from close range.
There were no further goals in the second half as Sekhukhune moved to within one win of a first ever cup finals for the Limpopo side. Chippa were denied a fourth semifinal appearance in the last six years.

2023 NEDBANK CUP QUARTERFINAL FIXTURES/RESULTS

April 15

Dondol Stars 1 (Mukungo 57’) Orlando Pirates 1 (Lorch 55’)
After extra-time; Pirates won 5-4 on penalties

Stellenbosch FC 2 (Rayners 48’, 57’) Mamelodi Sundowns 1 (Langeveldt 39’og)

 
April 16
Chippa United 1 (Ighodaro 17’) Sekhukhune United 2 (Mokwana 1’, Ohizu 43’)

Royal AM 1 (Manganyi 28’) Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Matlaba 36’, Maart 102’pen)

After extra-time

TOURNAMENT STATS 

Matches Played: 28

Goals Scored: 90

Biggest Victory: Sekhukhune United 6 Liver Brothers 0 (February 8, Last 32)

Most Goals in a Game: 9 – TS Galaxy 3 Stellenbosch FC 6 (March 12, Last 16)

GOALSCORERS 

6 goals – Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC)

5 – Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns)

3 – Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Kgomotso Mosadi (Casric Stars)

2 – Ashley du Preez (Kaizer Chiefs), Rodrick Kabwe (Sekhukhune United), Rhulani Manzini (Venda Football Academy), Levy Mashiane (Royal AM), Vusimuzi Mncube (Sekhukhune United), Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Chibuike Ohizu (Sekhukhune United), Masilake Phohlongo (TS Galaxy)

1 – Mumuni Abubakar (Casric Stars), Diego Appollis (Chippa United), Francis Baloyi (Polokwane City), Caleb Bimenyimana (Kaizer Chiefs), Chumani Butsaka (Cape Town Spurs), Daniel Cardoso (Sekhukhune United), Edmore Chirambadare (Venda Football Academy), Andre de Jong (Stellenbosch FC), Siyabonga Dubula (Pretoria Callies), Kenneth Dupane (Tornado FC), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Kermit Erasmus (Orlando Pirates), Revaldo Fox (Dondol Stars), Michael Gumede (AmaZulu), Etiosa Ighodaro (Chippa United), Ibraheem Jabaar (Stellenbosch FC), Mario Katz (Tornado FC), Letsie Koapeng (Marumo Gallants), Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Victor Letsoalo (Sekhukhune United), Yusuf Maart (Kaizer Chiefs), Sphiwe Mahlangu (TS Galaxy), Bonginkosi Makanya (Mpheni Home Defenders), Katleho Makateng (Richards Bay), Lesego Manganyi (Royal AM), Nkosephayo Mavundla (Mpheni Home Defenders), Tebogo Makungo (Dondol Stars), Yaimil Medina (TS Galaxy), Junior Mendieta (Stellenbosch FC), Gabadinho Mhango (AmaZulu), Elias Mokwana (Sekhukhune United), Relebogile Molefe (Dondol Stars), Kholofelo Monama (Dondol Stars), Therlo Moosa (Cape Town Spurs), Tashreeq Morris (Sekhukhune United), Judas Moseamedi (Marumo Gallants), Ricardo Nascimento (Royal AM), Siyabonga Nhlapo (SuperSport United), Siyabonga Nkosi (Casric Stars), Bongo Ntuli (AmaZulu), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Chippa United), Boitumelo Pheko (Marumo Gallants), Colin Ryan (Cape Town Spurs), Christian Saile (Kaizer Chiefs), Monnapule Saleng  (Orlando Pirates), Kamogelo Sebelebele (TS Galaxy), Kagiso Selemela (Magesi FC), Nkateko Shilenge (Mpheni Home Defenders), Vusi Sibiya (Stellenbosch FC), Theko Thakho (FC Blackcross), Tebogo Thangwane (Marumo Gallants), Devon Titus (Stellenbosch FC), Nkanyiso Zungu (Richards Bay)
Own goals – Lee Langeveldt (Stellenbosch FC), Thabo Matlaba (Royal AM), Kamogelo Mogaswa (Pretoria Callies), Bulelani Nikani (Polokwane City)