TUT and UP-Tuks have booked their places in the 2026 Varsity Football final after securing 1-0 semifinal victories over Wits and UJ respectively on Friday.
TUT edged Wits at Wits Stadium, while UP-Tuks defeated UJ at the UJ Soweto Stadium, setting up an all-Tshwane final for the Varsity Football title.
TUT took the lead in the 19th minute when Kereabilwe Mphahlele finished a neat combination involving Likho James. Wits pushed for an equaliser after the break, but TUT remained resilient.
Wits’ hopes were further dented in the 70th minute when Keabetswe Segaetsho received a second yellow card and was sent off. TUT held on to secure a 1-0 victory, with Akani Rathokoa named Player of the Match.
At the UJ Soweto Stadium, UP-Tuks also secured a narrow victory after Kholofelo Masenamela struck in the 86th minute.
Masenamela capitalised on a loose ball in the box after UJ goalkeeper Bayanda Mkhonza failed to punch clear, calmly finishing to give Tuks the decisive lead.
UJ pushed forward in stoppage time in search of an equaliser, but the UP-Tuks defence held firm to secure a place in the final. Jason Cox was named Player of the Match.
The final will bring together two of the competition’s most successful teams. TUT are the record four-time champions and have now reached their ninth final, while UP-Tuks have lifted the trophy three times.
The fixture will also be a repeat of the 2017 final, when UP-Tuks defeated TUT 2-0 at TUT’s home ground to claim the title. Simbongile Njokwe and Odwa Makha scored for Tuks on that occasion.
TUT will now look to rewrite that history when the two Tshwane rivals meet again in the 2026 decider, which is scheduled for Friday, 2 October 2026, at TUKS Stadium.