Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a significant upset in the 2026 Nedbank Cup, as TS Galaxy secured a 2-0 victory to advance to the final eight. The thrilling Round of 16 clash, held at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, saw debutant teenager Sphamandla Ngwenya open the scoring, followed by an expertly taken penalty by the experienced Zimbabwean striker Junior Zindonga to seal the win for the Rockets.

Sundowns, the defending league champions, approached this fixture fresh from a 2-1 Betway Premiership victory over Orlando Pirates. However, coach Miguel Cardoso made a surprising 10 changes to his starting lineup, with Portuguese star Nuno Santos being the only player retained from the midweek action. This bold strategy against a determined TS Galaxy side ultimately led to their elimination from the prestigious cup competition.

The teams lined up as follows: Sundowns starting 11 included Onyango, Johannes, Khoza, Lunga, Sibiya, Allende, Reisinho, Santos, Ntsabeleng, Letlakhu, and Shalulile. Their substitutes were Pieterse, Mudau, Morena, Modiba, Mkhulise, Adams, Matthews, Zwane, and Leon. TS Galaxy’s starting 11 comprised Ira, Motaung, Mahlangu, Silva, Letsoenyo, Mbunjana, Maduna, Ngwenya, Mahlambi, Letsoalo, and Zindonga. Their bench included Mathebula (GK), Fisher, Zulu, Dlamini, Mvelase, Kakora, Mgaga, Ouamri, and Keita.

Both teams had contrasting journeys to the Round of 16. Mamelodi Sundowns secured their spot with a controlled 2-1 victory over Gomora United on February 4, 2026. TS Galaxy, on the other hand, had to battle much harder, grinding out a 1-0 extra-time win against Marumo Gallants on February 8, 2026, demonstrating their resilience ahead of facing the league heavyweights.

The Nedbank Cup has a rich history for both clubs. Since its rebranding in 2008, Mamelodi Sundowns has been one of its most dominant teams, winning the inaugural edition that year and adding further trophies in 2015, 2020, and 2022. They also hold the record for the most goals in the competition, highlighted by a remarkable 24-0 win over Powerlines FC in 2012. TS Galaxy, however, made history in 2019 by becoming the first lower-division team to lift the trophy, famously defeating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in the final while still in the National First Division. This latest victory against Sundowns adds another significant chapter to their cup legacy.