Which PSL teams have won and lost the most Cup finals?
Magesi are 2024 League Cup champions, but which teams have the most Cup wins and Cup defeats to their name in PSL history?
Magesi won the Carling Knockout this past weekend, coming back from a goal down to beat Sundowns in a Cup final that will be remembered for years. Magesi are the 18th different team to win the League Cup in the PSL era, but the first ever to do so as a newly promoted side. Indeed, they are the first team to win any sort of domestic trophy in the season immediately after promotion. But who holds the record for reaching, winning and losing the most Cup titles in PSL history?. Let’s dig in.
First, some housekeeping.
PSL era only (1996/97 onwards)
We’re simply looking at who won the Cup and who lost (on the day(s) - draws/penalty shootouts irrelevant)
Domestic knockout competitions only (excluding Sundowns’ CAFCL, AFL & SuperCup titles & CAFCL defeat), Pirates African Champions Cup (present-day CAFCL) & CAF defeats, Chiefs’ African Cup Winners Cup win & CAFCL defeat.
Most finals reached
The Carling Cup final was Sundowns’ 25th domestic final of the PSL era, bringing them level with Orlando Pirates for the most finals by any PSL side. When the team’s met in the 2024 Nedbank Cup final, both were marking 24 finals. Add an MTN8 final for Pirates and the CKO final for Sundowns, and we’re on 25-25. Pirates’ first final came in the 1996 Bob Save alongside Jomo Cosmos, while Sundowns’ came in the 1997 Rothmans Cup against Chiefs.
Most finals reached:
25 - Sundowns
25 - Pirates
22 - Chiefs
17 - SuperSport
10 - Ajax Cape Town
Umtata Bush Bucks were the first team to reach a final in the PSL era, beating Qwa Qwa Stars in the 1996 Coke Cup. Like, Magesi they are part of 16 teams to reach just one major domestic final, and nothing more.
Most finals won
Reaching finals is one thing; winning them is another. Unsurprisignly, the five teams that reached the most finals are the same teams that have won the most. Except the ordering is different. Despite not featuring in a domestic final since 2019, and not tasting victory since 2014, Chiefs are still the dominant side in terms of finals won:
Most finals won:
15 - Chiefs
13 - Pirates
10 - Sundowns
9 - SuperSport
4 - Ajax Cape Town
Of the 16 sides that reached just one final, 10 of these sides lost their only chance at glory, while six have reached one final and won it: Baroka, Golden Arrows, TS Galaxy, TTM, the aforementioned Umtata Bush Bucks and Magesi. Santos, meanwhile, are the team with the best 100% record in finals, reaching three finals and winning all three (2000 Bob Save, 2002 Top8 and the 2003 Bob Save).
Most finals lost
Downs have suffered the most in Cup finals, losing 15 finals - more than any other side. While a lot of that has to do with them getting there so often (joint-first for finals), their proportionte record doesn’t make good reading either. Among teams to have appeared in at least three domestic finals, no team has a lower win rate than Sundowns (10/25 - 40%) - level with Ajax Cape Town (4/10) and Bloemfontein Celtic (2/5). Interestingly, their 15 losses are equally split in the three competitions.
Most finals lost:
15 - Sundowns
12 - Pirates
8 - SuperSport
7 - Chiefs
6 - Ajax Cape Town
Maritzburg United and AmaZulu have reached two finals in the PSL era, and lost both, the most times a team has reached a final without winning one at present.
