Orlando Pirates ended a 14-year wait for the title in the most dramatic way possible, winning on the final day to pip Mamelodi Sundowns by a single point. Sundowns answered by lifting the CAF Champions League. The two chase each other again in 2026/27, joined by debutants Kruger United and Milford FC, when the new season kicks off on 1 August 2026.
Betway Premiership 2025/26 — Results, Table & Season Recap
Pirates were crowned champions on 69 points with a club-record 21 wins, sealing a 10th league title and their first since 2012. The margin over Sundowns was a single point, which ended the Brazilians' run of eight straight titles.
| Pos | Team | Pts | Continental spot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando Pirates (C) | 69 | CAF Champions League | 10th title, first since 2012 |
| 2 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 68 | CAF Champions League | Won the CAF Champions League |
| 3 | Kaizer Chiefs | 54 | CAF Confederation Cup | 15W 9D 6L |
| 4 | AmaZulu | 47 | - | Missed out on continental football |
| 8 | Durban City | 39 | CAF Confederation Cup | Nedbank Cup winners |
| 15 | Magesi FC | 24 | - | Relegated via play-off |
| 16 | Orbit College (R) | - | - | Relegated, one season up |
The play-off note matters here. Fifteenth-placed Magesi entered a round-robin against Motsepe Foundation Championship sides Milford FC and Cape Town City, running from 26 May to 13 June 2026. Milford won promotion on 7 points, Magesi went down on 5, and Cape Town City finished last on 4. So two clubs dropped out of the top flight: Orbit College automatically, and Magesi through the play-off.
Season awards and standout numbers
The PSL Awards on 27 July 2026 were a Pirates procession. Relebohile Mofokeng swept Footballer, Players' Player and Young Player of the Season, while Abdeslam Ouaddou took Coach of the Season. Sipho Chaine was named Goalkeeper of the Season after a record 21 league clean sheets in 30 games, beating Ronwen Williams' previous best of 18.
The one major award Pirates missed was the Golden Boot, which went to Golden Arrows' Ivorian forward Sede Junior Dion on 14 league goals.
The two stories that shaped the season
First, the title race. Sundowns finished their programme early because of the CAF Champions League final, leaving Pirates two points back with one game to play. Pirates beat Orbit College 2-0 at Mbombela Stadium through two Orbit own goals, and the 14-year drought was over.
Second, Mofokeng's farewell. The 21-year-old registered 10 goals and 8 assists in 27 league games. He then completed a move to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium on a four-year deal, for a fee reported at around €3 million, though the clubs did not disclose it. Replacing his creativity is the defining question of Pirates' summer.
What's New in the South Africa Betway Premiership 2026/27
Promoted and relegated
| In (promoted) | How | Out (relegated) | Top-flight run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kruger United | Motsepe Foundation Championship winners | Orbit College | 1 season |
| Milford FC | Play-off winners over Magesi and Cape Town City | Magesi FC | Via play-off |
Kruger United and Milford FC will play top-flight football for the first time in their history. The former reached this level after buying Caroline FC's status in 2023 and then winning the second tier, while Milford earned promotion on merit through the play-offs.
Manager changes
| Club | Out | In | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Pirates | - | Abdeslam Ouaddou (stays) | Coach of the Season |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | - | Miguel Cardoso (stays) | One-year option triggered |
| Kaizer Chiefs | Kaze & Ben Youssef (left) | Fernando Da Cruz | Two-year deal from 1 July |
The headline appointment is at Naturena, where Frenchman Fernando Da Cruz signed a two-year deal. The former Royal Moroccan Football Federation technical director, who worked under Marcelo Bielsa at Lille, replaces interim pair Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef. Both landed elsewhere in the league, Ben Youssef at Durban City and Kaze at Sekhukhune United.
Key summer 2026 transfers
Mofokeng's exit to Belgium is the marquee departure of the window. Beyond that, Pirates rebuilt their squad depth by raiding newly renamed Siwelele for Ghampani Lungu, Neo Rapoo and Bohlale Ngwato, while losing striker Tshegofatso Mabasa and defender Thabiso Lebitso. You can follow every move as it lands on the 22Bet transfer hub.
Chiefs were measured under Da Cruz, adding four players: free-agent centre-back Thabo Moloisane and goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner, Tanzanian midfielder Adolf Mtasingwa from Azam FC, and Khanyisa Mayo on a permanent deal for a reported R9.8 million. Out went Tashreeq Morris, Gaston Sirino and Aden McCarthy, who joined Sabah in Azerbaijan.
Sundowns, as ever, spent from a position of strength. Austria-based forward Antonio Van Wyk arrived from SV Ried, Siyanda Ndlovu from Golden Arrows, Terrence Mashego from Chiefs, alongside Siwelele pair Kobamelo Kodisang and Asekho Tiwani.
Players to watch in 2026/27
With Mofokeng gone, the domestic marquee names sit elsewhere.
Oswin Appollis, Midfielder of the Season, scored 9 and set up 6 for Pirates. Sundowns lean on Teboho Mokoena, who struck the decisive equaliser in the Champions League final, and striker Iqraam Rayners, whose 12 league goals were second only to Dion. At Chiefs, Flavio Silva weighed in with 8 league goals, and new signing Van Wyk is the Sundowns arrival most likely to make an early mark.
Betway Premiership Fixtures and Key Dates 2026/27
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 Aug 2026 | Season starts: Matchday 1 (eight fixtures) |
| 8-9 Aug 2026 | MTN8 quarter-finals (top eight from 2025/26) |
| 10 Oct 2026 | MTN8 final |
| 24-27 Oct 2026 | Carling Knockout last 16 |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Soweto Derby 1: Pirates v Chiefs (provisional) |
| 12 Dec 2026 | Carling Knockout final |
| 23 Dec 2026 | Final matches before the festive break |
| 5 Jan 2027 | League resumes |
| Jan 2027 | Nedbank Cup early rounds (dates to be confirmed) |
| 13 Mar 2027 | Soweto Derby 2: Chiefs v Pirates (provisional) |
| 22 May 2027 | Final day, all fixtures kicking off together |
The openers carry real novelty. Milford make their top-flight debut away at Pirates' Orlando Stadium, while Kruger United host Chiefs at Mbombela Stadium on day one. Sundowns' start was pushed back after their fixture with Marumo Gallants was postponed.
The Soweto Derby remains the season's showpiece: the 2025/26 meeting drew 88,120 to FNB Stadium, the division's highest crowd of the campaign. One scheduling note for readers to keep in mind: AFCON falls after the season this year, from 19 June to 17 July 2027, so there is no mid-season continental break to plan around.
Betway Premiership Title Race 2026/27 — Who Will Win?
Three clubs have a realistic shot at the title, with Sundowns entering as pre-season favourites despite last season's near miss.
Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns conceded just 21 league goals, won the Champions League, and finished a point off the title while juggling continental football. Miguel Cardoso stays on after the club triggered his one-year option, and the squad remain the deepest and best-resourced in the country. Fixture congestion from a Champions League defence is the obvious risk.
Orlando Pirates — [22Bet odds]
The defending champions won the title on the back of a 14-match unbeaten run and the meanest defence around, keeping Chaine's record 21 clean sheets. Ouaddou stays, and a domestic treble of league, MTN8 and Carling Knockout proves this is a full squad rather than a one-man team. The Mofokeng-shaped hole in midfield is the one unanswered question heading into the new season.
Kaizer Chiefs — [22Bet odds]
Chiefs finished third, well adrift of the top two, but there is a genuine reset underway. Fernando Da Cruz brings a UEFA Pro Licence and a Moroccan title; the biggest stadium and fanbase in the country sit behind him. The squad have been tidied rather than torn up, and they look the most interesting challenger of the three if Da Cruz settles quickly.
Dark horse: AmaZulu were competitive throughout 2025/26 with a settled squad and remain genuine contenders for a top-four finish.
Our pick: Sundowns have the strongest squad and are the natural choice for the title. Chiefs are the most intriguing challenger under new management, while Pirates remain the soundest call as defending champions.
Betway Premiership Relegation Battle — Who Goes Down?
At least one promoted side usually goes straight back. Kruger United and Milford FC both arrive without a minute of top-flight experience between them. Orbit College are the fresh cautionary tale: promoted, then relegated inside a season with the lowest points total in the division. Kruger's status-purchase route to this level adds another layer of uncertainty about how ready the squad are.
Among the established clubs, the sides that hovered near the play-off line last season, TS Galaxy, Chippa United and Marumo Gallants, look most exposed again, particularly if their summer recruitment is light. On format, the PSL confirms 2026/27 keeps one automatic relegation for the bottom club plus a promotion/relegation play-off for 15th, not two automatic drops. If 22Bet publishes a relegation market, the two debutants are the natural starting point, though newcomer prices often overstate the danger, so shop around before committing.