Ajax earned their place in the semis thanks to an upset 1-0 away win over Orlando Pirates in the quarterfinals earlier this month, with Ndiviwe Mdabuka scoring 10 minutes into the second half.
As for Wits, they overcame SuperSport United 3-1 after extra time to advance into the last four. Sibusiso Vilakazi, Daine Klate and Henrico Botes netted in their victory over Matsatsantsa in Johannesburg.
Both teams will be looking to break a long drought since they last appeared in the Top Eight Final. For Ajax, they last reached the MTN8 Final back in 2009 when they were crushed 6-0 by Golden Arrows. They have yet to win this competition.
As for Wits, their last appearance in the Final arrived way back in 1995 when they defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 to claim the second of their two Top Eight cup triumphs (the first was in 1984 when they beat Moroka Swallows 4-3 on aggregate).
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In head-to-head statistics, Ajax have emerged victorious in all three of the teams’ previous cup matches. The first was in the 2004 Absa Cup when the teams drew 1-1 before the Cape side claimed a 5-4 penalty shootout win.
The Urban Warriors then defeated the Clever Boys 1-0 in the second round of the 2007 Absa Cup (en route to winning the competition) and repeated the trick eight years later in the quarterfinals of the 2015 Nedbank Cup with a 2-1 victory (en route to ending as runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns).
In all, the teams have met in 34 league and cup matches since Ajax’s formation in 1999. The Cape side has 12 victories compared to 11 for Wits, while 11 matches have been drawn.
The teams’ most recent meeting was just this past weekend in the opening round of league fixtures. The Johannesburg side claimed a 2-1 home victory thanks to goals from Vilakazi and new signing Elias Pelembe, while the visitors’ consolation goal was scored by Abbubaker Mobara.
PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS:
Season Cup Result Scorers
2003/04 Absa Cup, qfinal Ajax 1-1* Wits Mulekelayi; Mhlongo
2006/07 Absa Cup, 2nd round Ajax 1-0 Wits Mwafulirwa
2014/15 Nedbank Cup, qfinal Ajax 2-1 Wits Morris, Mzwakali; Hlatshwayo
*After extra time, Ajax won 5-4 on penalties
LAST 10 LEAGUE RESULTS:
Season Result Scorers
2010/11 Wits 2-0 Ajax Sif. Vilakazi, Myeni
2011/12 Ajax 0-2 Wits Chapman 2
2011/12 Wits 1-1 Ajax Batabaire; Fanteni
2012/13 Wits 0-0 Ajax
2012/13 Ajax 0-2 Wits Chapman, Langwe
2013/14 Wits 1-0 Ajax Ngalende
2013/14 Ajax 1-0 Wits Lark
2014/15 Ajax 3-1 Wits Paulse 2 (1 pen), Dolly; Ngcobo
2014/15 Wits 4-2 Ajax Vilakazi 3, Hlatshwayo; Allie, Sadaoui (pen)
2015/16 Wits 2-1 Ajax Vilakazi, Pelembe; Mobara