January Wrap: Five Key Stats That Shaped the PSL & CAF Weekend
Inspired by Opta Jabu’s “By the Numbers,” but reimagined for our month-end competition roundup.
Chiefs Make CAF History with a Double Over Zesco
February is here, but January left its mark. From milestone draws to record-breaking home streaks, the PSL and CAF competitions gave fans plenty to talk about. Orlando Pirates, Chippa United, and AmaZulu grabbed vital wins domestically, while PSL teams in Africa’s club competitions had a mixed bag: Kaizer Chiefs thrived, Sundowns and Stellenbosch stumbled. Here’s a January wrap of standout stats that defined the month’s action.
The Long-Awaited 2-2 Draw
In PSL circles, a 2-2 draw is affectionately called a “Desmond”, and January gave fans two of them: Richards Bay 2-2 Golden Arrows, followed by Polokwane 2-2 Orit.
Why it’s notable: it had been 360 days since a PSL league game ended 2-2 — the longest stretch ever between Desmonds.
Longest gaps between 2-2s (league only):
360 days — 4 Feb 2025 → 30 Jan 2026
335 days — 3 May 2023 → 2 April 2024
215 days — 16 Feb 2010 → 19 Sept 2010
Fans love a classic Desmond, and January delivered one after a full year of waiting.
Perfect Balance: PSL Teams in CAF
PSL sides in Africa showed remarkable symmetry in January. Across 12 CAF group-stage games, South African teams recorded exactly 4 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses.
Group Stage Records:
Sundowns: P4 W1 D2 L1
Kaizer Chiefs: P4 W2 D1 L1
Stellenbosch: P4 W1 D1 L2
Consistency or coincidence? Either way, January proved that PSL teams can hold their own on the continental stage.
Chiefs’ Continental Double
Kaizer Chiefs became only the third PSL team to beat a Zambian side both home and away in the same CAF campaign — a feat rarely seen.
Previous PSL doubles over Zambian clubs:
Manning Rangers (97/98) — Power Dynamos (H & A)
Orlando Pirates (2012/13) — Zanaco (H & A)
Kaizer Chiefs (2025/26) — Zesco (H & A)
A historic achievement to highlight in our January wrap-up.
Pirates’ Goal-Assist Chemistry
Telepathy on the pitch? Maybe. Yanela Mbuthuma and Relebohile Mofokeng became the third pair of Pirates teammates to assist each other’s goals in the same league game since 2020.
Other instances (2020+):
Makgaka ↔ Deon Hotto — 24 Nov 2021 v Stellenbosch
Mokeng ↔ Saleng — 20 May 2023 v AmaZulu
Mofokeng ↔ Mbuthuma — 31 Jan 2026 v Magesi
Chemistry like this makes Pirates’ January league wins even sweeter.
Pirates Equal Home-Win Record
10 — Orlando Pirates have now won 10 consecutive home games across all competitions, equalling the PSL record for home victories.
Previous PSL teams with 10 straight home wins:
Santos (2001)
Kaizer Chiefs (2014)
Sundowns (2016)
Sundowns (2023)
Orlando Pirates (ongoing)
Home-field advantage is real, and January proved that the Buccaneers’ fortress at home is formidable.
Wrap-Up: January in Perspective
January may have ended, but its stories linger: Desmonds returned, PSL teams showed symmetry in CAF, Chiefs dominated Zambian sides, and Pirates displayed both teamwork and home dominance.
This feature draws inspiration from Opta Jabu’s original “By the Numbers,” reimagined for our month-end competition highlight — a January snapshot of stats that matter.
February promises more drama, records, and standout moments — and we’ll be here to track them all.
