Venda FC host Upington City in what promises to be a compelling Motsepe Foundation Championship encounter at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday, 24 January 2026 at 15:30. Both sides find themselves locked on 20 points in the 2025/2026 campaign, with Venda FC occupying 7th place and Upington City sitting just one position higher in 6th. This fixture carries significant weight as both teams look to establish breathing space in the middle of the table and push towards the promotion playoff positions.

Team Form and Head-to-Head

Venda FC enter this contest with mixed recent form, having collected five points from their last five matches. Their most recent outing saw them suffer a narrow 1-2 defeat away to Hungry Lions on 03 December 2025. The hosts have shown resilience at home, notably securing a 2-1 victory over Gomora United FC, though their attacking output remains a concern with just 10 goals scored in 14 league matches this season.

Upington City have demonstrated greater attacking prowess, netting 19 goals in 13 matches, but their recent form has been inconsistent. The visitors secured an impressive 1-0 away victory against Cape Town City in their last fixture, yet their form guide shows three losses in their previous five matches. Their superior goal difference of +5 compared to Venda FC's neutral goal difference highlights their greater threat going forward, particularly after their emphatic 4-2 home win against Kruger United.

What's at Stake

The league table implications for this Venda FC vs Upington City clash are substantial. A victory for either side would see them reach 23 points, potentially climbing into the top five depending on other results. Venda FC will be keen to leverage home advantage at Thohoyandou Stadium to leapfrog their opponents, while Upington City know three points would consolidate their position in the upper half of the Motsepe Foundation Championship standings. With both teams having played similar numbers of matches, this represents a genuine six-pointer in the race for playoff qualification.

Match Prediction

The statistics suggest a closely contested affair between two evenly matched sides. Venda FC's defensive solidity at home, evidenced by clean sheets against Cape Town City and Leicesterford City, could frustrate Upington City's attack. However, the visitors' superior goal-scoring record and recent away victory indicate they possess the quality to secure a result. Expert analysis favours a low-scoring encounter, with win probabilities showing a 45% chance for both Upington City and a draw, compared to just 10% for the hosts. The prediction for this Venda FC vs Upington City preview suggests a tight 1-1 draw, with the recommended betting advice being a double chance on draw or Upington City with under 3.5 goals.