2025–26 SAFA Second Division

ABC Motsepe League
Season2025–26
Matches66
Goals168 (2.55 per match)
Biggest home winYoung Pirates 5-0 Leruma United
Buffalo City Relatives 5-0 Emi
Thames 5-0 Mahika Champions
Biggest away winKwaNdebele United 0-7 Phezulu
Highest scoringReal Movers 5-3 Homeboys United
2026–27 →

The 2025–26 SAFA Second Division (known as the ABC Motsepe League for sponsorship reasons)[1] will be the 28th season of the SAFA Second Division, the third tier for South African association football clubs, since its establishment in 1998. Due to the size of South Africa, the competition was split into nine divisions, one for each region. After the league stage of the regional competition is completed, the nine winning teams of each regional division will enter the playoffs.[2]

The competition is administered by the South African Football Association.

Due the expulsion of Premiership teams Royal AM, three teams were promoted from the previous season rather than the usual two. The start of the season is again being affected by legal challenges following the decision to conclude the previous season's playoffs with only seven teams, after the exclusion of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo representatives.[3]


Eastern Cape

ABC Motsepe League Eastern Cape
Season2025–26
Matches28
Goals72 (2.57 per match)
Biggest home winBuffalo City Relatives 5-0 Emi
Biggest away winFast Eleven 0-4 Bizana Pondo City
Highest scoringCamdeboo Football Academy 3-4 Gqeberha United
2026–27 →

Coastal Stream

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Buffalo City Relatives 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 9 Qualification for Eastern Cape final
2 Komani United 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4 7
3 Makana Rhini United 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7
4 Amavarara 3 1 1 1 3 5 −2 4
5 Old Grey 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3
6 Gqeberha United 3 1 0 2 6 8 −2 3
7 Camdeboo Football Academy 3 0 2 1 7 8 −1 2
8 Emi 3 0 2 1 2 7 −5 2
9 Sundays River Valley Academy 3 0 1 2 3 5 −2 1
10 Seven Stars 3 0 1 2 4 7 −3 1 Relegation to the Hollywoodbets Regional League
Updated to match(es) played on 5 November 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15204&stream_id=23316

Results

Statistics

Inland Stream

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Bizana Pondo City 3 3 0 0 6 0 +6 9 Qualification for Eastern Cape final
2 SA Spear of the Nation 3 3 0 0 5 0 +5 9
3 Amaxesibe 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2 6
4 FC Ravens 3 2 0 1 3 1 +2 6
5 Sinenkani 3 1 1 1 2 1 +1 4
6 FC Batallion 3 1 0 2 2 6 −4 3
7 Mighty Eagles 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1
8 Matta Milan 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
9 Bush Bucks 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 0
10 Fast Eleven 3 0 0 3 0 7 −7 0 Relegation to the Hollywoodbets Regional League
Updated to match(es) played on 5 November 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15204&stream_id=23315

Results

Statistics

Free State

In March 2026, Mathaithai pulled out of the league, citing SAFA's failure to pay five years worth of grants, and lack of sponsorship.[4]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sasolburg United 12 7 2 3 17 13 +4 23 Qualification for Free State final
2 Mangaung Unite 9 6 3 0 17 3 +14 21
3 Mangaung City 12 6 3 3 18 11 +7 21
4 Super Eagles 10 6 2 2 14 9 +5 20
5 Kovsies 8 5 2 1 14 6 +8 17
6 Kamele FC 12 5 2 5 20 15 +5 17
7 Tower United 12 4 5 3 17 17 0 17
8 Mathathai 10 4 3 3 11 8 +3 15
9 African Warriors 12 4 3 5 11 16 −5 15
10 Motsomotle 11 3 5 3 14 15 −1 14
11 Free State United 11 4 2 5 17 20 −3 14
12 Welkom Real Stars 11 3 4 4 16 16 0 13
13 Sibanye Stillwater 10 4 1 5 11 14 −3 13
14 Remember Elite Soccer Academy 9 2 5 2 15 15 0 11
15 Brave Eleven 12 2 4 6 12 17 −5 10
16 Central University 8 2 3 3 9 12 −3 9
17 Mountain Eagles 12 2 3 7 13 22 −9 9 Relegation to the SAFA Regional League
18 Bloemfontein Young Tigers 11 0 2 9 11 28 −17 2
Updated to match(es) played on 5 January 2026. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=12439&stream_id=19428

Gauteng

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 University of Johannesburg 6 5 1 0 10 4 +6 16 Qualification for Promotion play-offs
2 Orlando Pirates B 6 4 1 1 14 7 +7 13
3 Mabopane JM 6 4 0 2 10 7 +3 12
4 Rrr Rams 6 3 2 1 9 5 +4 11
5 Tembisa Hollywood Thunder 6 3 2 1 5 2 +3 11
6 Wits University 6 3 2 1 6 4 +2 11
7 Young Pirates 6 3 1 2 13 9 +4 10
8 Dinoko City 6 3 1 2 10 9 +1 10
9 Mike-1-Stars 6 3 1 2 6 5 +1 10
10 La Masia 6 2 3 1 10 5 +5 9
11 Soweto Super United M-17 6 1 4 1 7 7 0 7
12 Tshwane South College 6 1 3 2 7 7 0 6
13 Tshwane University of Technology 6 2 0 4 6 7 −1 6
14 Free Agents 6 1 3 2 1 2 −1 6
15 Jomo Cosmos 6 1 2 3 6 9 −3 5
16 JBM 6 0 3 3 3 9 −6 3
17 Dube Continental 6 0 1 5 5 12 −7 1 Relegation to Hollywoodbets Regional League
18 Leruma United 6 0 0 6 1 19 −18 0
Updated to match(es) played on 16 November 2025. Source: [1]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) goals scored; 7) playoff.

KwaZulu-Natal

Stream A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Umvoti 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Qualification for KwaZulu-Natal final
2 Good Fellas 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 6
3 Asande 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1 6
4 Njampela 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6
5 Durban Pioneers 3 1 2 0 5 4 +1 5
6 Hellenic 3 1 1 1 5 2 +3 4
7 Summerfield Dynamos 3 1 1 1 4 2 +2 4
8 Umlazi Young Lions 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
9 Ulundi United 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
10 Umzinto United 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2
11 Tornado 3 0 1 2 0 5 −5 1
12 University of KwaZulu-Natal 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0 Relegation to the SAFA Regional League
Updated to match(es) played on 15 October 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15255&stream_id=23904

Stream B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Mkhambathi 11 8 2 1 17 2 +15 26 Qualification for KwaZulu-Natal final]
2 Msinga United 11 7 3 1 14 6 +8 24
3 Umshwathi United 11 5 5 1 11 5 +6 20
4 Chess 11 5 4 2 10 5 +5 19
5 Falcons 11 4 5 2 13 9 +4 17
6 KwaMashu Durban Knights 11 5 2 4 10 5 +5 17
7 Umgungundlovu United 11 4 4 3 10 7 +3 16
8 Ethekwini Coastal 10 4 1 5 7 10 −3 13
9 Newcastle Warriors 11 2 4 5 0 12 −12 10
10 Ditlou 10 1 4 5 6 11 −5 7
11 Drakensberg 11 1 4 6 4 13 −9 7
12 Newcastle All Stars 11 0 0 11 5 22 −17 0
Updated to match(es) played on 30 December 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15255&stream_id=23905

Limpopo

In March, the game between Ngwaabe City Motors and Eleven Fast Tiger was abandoned after a penalty was awarded to Ngwaabe. Tigers felt that the decision was unfair, and that they had had two clear penalties denied, and left the pitch in protest.[5]

Limpopo Stream A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Mpheni Home Defenders 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 6 Qualification for Limpopo final
2 Tzaneen United 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4 6
3 Mukondeni Young Chiefs 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4
4 The Dolphins 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3
5 Phalaborwa United 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3
6 Vondwe XI Bullets 2 1 0 1 2 4 −2 3
7 White Vultures 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2
8 Baduzah Celtics 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 2
9 Musina United 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1
10 Lebash Football Academy 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1
11 Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1
12 Nkowankowa Continental 2 0 0 2 3 6 −3 0 Relegation to the SAFA Regional League
Updated to match(es) played on 18 November 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15205&stream_id=23326

Limpopo Stream B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 City Motors 14 7 4 3 17 5 +12 25 Qualification for Limpopo final
2 Ramatlaohle Mogalakwena United 14 6 6 2 16 12 +4 24
3 Makotopong Bahumi 13 6 4 3 19 14 +5 22
4 Royal Pirates 13 6 2 5 20 15 +5 20
5 Mighty 11 5 4 2 21 18 +3 19
6 Mohlabile United 13 4 7 2 13 14 −1 19
7 Mokopane Pj Stars United 14 5 4 5 17 19 −2 19
8 Ditlou 13 3 8 2 14 11 +3 17
9 Tubatse United 13 4 4 5 12 13 −1 16
10 Eleven Fast Tigers 14 3 5 6 12 16 −4 14
11 Gosebe United 13 2 4 7 14 20 −6 10
12 University of Limpopo Academy 11 0 2 9 6 24 −18 2 Relegation to the SAFA Regional League
Updated to match(es) played on 9 March 2026. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15205&stream_id=23327

Mpumalanga

Stream A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Phezulu 5 4 1 0 12 0 +12 13 Qualification for Mpumalanga final
2 Middelburg United 4 4 0 0 7 0 +7 12
3 Shimadel 5 3 1 1 7 3 +4 10
4 Secunda M Stars 4 3 1 0 6 2 +4 10
5 KwaNdebele United 4 3 0 1 8 10 −2 9
6 Carolina Young Boys 5 2 2 1 4 3 +1 8
7 Amsterdam United 4 2 0 2 3 3 0 6
8 Home Culture Express 5 1 3 1 4 5 −1 6
9 Witbank City Lads 5 1 0 4 2 7 −5 3
10 Tiger Boys 4 0 2 2 4 6 −2 2
11 Machidi Lion Brothers 5 0 2 3 2 7 −5 2
12 Home Defenders 5 0 1 4 2 7 −5 1
13 Sivutsa 5 0 1 4 4 12 −8 1 Relegation to Hollywoodbets Regional League
Updated to match(es) played on 15 November 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15236&stream_id=23576
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) goals scored; 7) playoff.

Stream B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Fernie Battalion 5 3 2 0 8 2 +6 11 Qualification for Mpumalanga final
2 Luthuli Brigades 4 3 1 0 10 1 +9 10
3 Liver Brothers 5 2 2 1 4 4 0 8
4 Junior Callies 5 2 1 2 4 7 −3 7
5 Makhonjwa All Stars 5 1 3 1 4 3 +1 6
6 KaMhlushwa Real Madrid 5 1 3 1 5 5 0 6
7 Sibange Young Bucks 5 1 2 2 5 3 +2 5
8 Acornhoek United 4 1 2 1 5 5 0 5
9 Zebras 4 0 2 2 4 6 −2 2
10 Dankie Son 4 0 0 4 0 13 −13 0 Relegation to Hollywoodbets Regional League
Updated to match(es) played on 18 November 2025. Source: [2]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) goals scored; 7) playoff.

Northern Cape

Stream A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 NC Professionals 8 6 1 1 26 6 +20 19 Qualification for playoffs
2 Amalawus 7 6 0 1 15 6 +9 18
3 Kakamas Juventus 6 5 0 1 16 5 +11 15
4 Benfica 9 5 0 4 12 12 0 15
5 Rasta Far Eagles 9 5 0 4 11 12 −1 15
6 Olympics 8 3 3 2 18 14 +4 12
7 Kakamas United 7 3 1 3 12 11 +1 10
8 Upington Tornado 6 3 1 2 10 10 0 10
9 Tsantsabane Stars 8 2 2 4 9 11 −2 8
10 Kakamas Sundowns 8 2 1 5 7 16 −9 7
11 Postmasburg 7 1 0 6 3 17 −14 3
12 Young Ones 9 0 1 8 11 30 −19 1
Updated to match(es) played on 10 December 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15232&stream_id=-1

Stream B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Gaza United 17 12 3 2 33 13 +20 39 Qualification for playoffs
2 Pearls United 17 10 5 2 22 10 +12 35
3 Jacksa Spears 13 9 1 3 35 15 +20 28
4 United Rovers 18 7 4 7 33 32 +1 25
5 Mighty Moovers 16 7 3 6 32 34 −2 24
6 G Stasie 14 6 4 4 25 18 +7 22
7 Mighty Reds 18 6 3 9 31 28 +3 21
8 SPU 16 6 1 9 27 29 −2 19
9 Ocean Swallows 16 5 3 8 25 42 −17 18
10 Blues 17 4 4 9 20 34 −14 16
11 Destiny United 14 3 4 7 19 30 −11 13 Relegation to the SAFA Regional League
12 Kimberley Saints 14 2 1 11 10 27 −17 7
Updated to match(es) played on 2 March 2026. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15232&stream_id=24252

North West

Stream A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 NW Signal 4 2 2 0 8 5 +3 8 North West final
2 Army Rockets FC 4 2 1 1 9 6 +3 7
3 Lethabong United 3 2 0 1 5 5 0 6
4 Kgositlile FC 3 1 2 0 7 6 +1 5
5 Spain FC 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 5
6 Cheeky Boys 3 1 1 1 7 6 +1 4
7 Thaba Tshwane 3 1 1 1 5 4 +1 4
8 NWU Tawana FC 3 1 1 1 3 6 −3 4
9 Platinum City Rovers 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 3
10 Jack All Stars 4 0 1 3 3 6 −3 1
11 Bokone NW FC 4 0 1 3 2 5 −3 1
12 Lerumo Lions 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to Hollywoodbets Regional League
Updated to match(es) played on 7 November 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15235&stream_id=23671

Stream B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Thames 5 4 1 0 11 1 +10 13 North West final
2 Stilfontein Real Hearts 5 3 2 0 6 3 +3 11
3 North West University 4 3 1 0 10 1 +9 10
4 Gm5 United 5 3 0 2 10 5 +5 9
5 Real Movers 5 3 0 2 11 9 +2 9
6 Milan 4 2 1 1 6 6 0 7
7 Belligerators 5 2 0 3 6 12 −6 6
8 Montshioa Swallows 5 1 2 2 3 5 −2 5
9 Nkamodira 5 1 1 3 5 7 −2 4
10 Homeboys United 4 1 0 3 5 10 −5 3
11 Indomitable Lions 5 1 0 4 5 10 −5 3
12 Mahika Champions 4 0 0 4 0 9 −9 0 Relegation to Hollywoodbets Regional League
Updated to match(es) played on 11 November 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15235&stream_id=23672

Western Cape

Prior to the start of the season, in November 2025, Santos were expelled from the league. This came after SAFA had excluded Santos from the Nedbank Cup over outstanding financial obligations. Santos had taken the matter to court, and SAFA were interdicted from going ahead with the Nedbank Cup fixture without Santos, and the matter referred to arbitration. SAFA then expelled Santos from the league.[6] Santos appealed and won, and were reinstated in the league, expanding it to 25 teams.[7]

Stream A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 FN Rangers 7 6 1 0 17 5 +12 19 Qualification for Western Cape final
2 Hout Bay United 9 5 2 2 14 5 +9 17
3 Hanover Park 8 4 3 1 13 9 +4 15
4 Seapoint Swifts 7 4 2 1 14 9 +5 14
5 Santos 4 3 1 0 5 1 +4 10
6 Vasco da Gama 7 2 3 2 10 8 +2 9
7 Seaside Spurs 7 2 3 2 9 11 −2 9
8 Ubuntu 8 2 3 3 11 16 −5 9
9 Cape Town Spurs 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8
10 Inter City 8 2 2 4 7 11 −4 8
11 Young Bafana 9 2 2 5 10 17 −7 8
12 Zizwe United 7 1 0 6 5 11 −6 3
13 Junction Rovers 9 1 0 8 9 21 −12 3
Updated to match(es) played on 2 March 2026. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15233&stream_id=24233

Stream B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Ammar Soccer Academy 2 2 0 0 8 1 +7 6 Qualification for Western Cape playoff
2 Diadora 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 6
3 Grassy Park United 2 1 1 0 4 1 +3 4
4 Barcelona 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4
5 Batalions FC 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4
6 Bayhill United 2 1 0 1 8 5 +3 3
7 Hillside 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 1
8 Royal Blues 2 0 1 1 3 5 −2 1
9 Maties F.C. 2 0 1 1 0 2 −2 1
10 Nanini Na All Stars 1 0 0 1 2 3 −1 0
11 Mbekweni Cosmos 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0
12 Ubuntu Spartans 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5 0
Updated to match(es) played on 8 December 2025. Source: https://inqaku.com/leagues/view?season_id=15233&stream_id=24234

Promotion play-offs

References

  1. ^ Laduma, Soccer. "SAFA and Motsepe Foundation renew ABC Mostepe League partnership". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  2. ^ "ABC Motsepe League". South African Football Association. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  3. ^ Munyai, Ofhani (23 July 2025). "Latest update on ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs court battle". FARPost. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  4. ^ Raophala, Mauwane (17 March 2026). "Unpaid grants row: SAFA reacts to Mathaithai FC's league withdrawal". FARPost ZA. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  5. ^ Raophala, Mauwane (9 March 2026). "Match abandoned after penalty awarded in Limpopo ABC Motsepe League". FARPost ZA. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  6. ^ Writer, FARPost (5 November 2025). "Santos expelled from the ABC Motsepe League". Farpost. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  7. ^ Gwegwe, Siseko (3 December 2025). "Santos win appeal after expulsion from ABC League". Farpost. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
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