Black Leopards have a steep mountain to climb if they want to continue to participate in the lucrative Nedbank Cup KO. The team was matched with Mamelodi Sundowns in their top-16 match. It will take place next weekend. To make it more of a tricky hurdle for Lidoda Duvha, they will be playing away from home. Leopards proved all the critics wrong last year when they managed to reach the semi-final stage. Leopards’ way to the last-16 stage was not an easy one. They beat the Thembisa-based Vodacom League side, M Tigers, in Thembisa, Johannesburg last Saturday. Kaizer Chiefs, who beat Supersport United 2-1 last weekend, will meet the National First Division side, FC Cape Town. It will be an away fixture for Chiefs. The other Limpopo side, Winners Park, will host Mpumalanga Black Aces at the Seshego Stadium outside Polokwane. Sparks are expected to fly when Ajax Cape Town battle it out against Free State Stars. Ajax Cape will enjoy the home-ground advantage. Thanda Royal Zulu will try their luck against Bidvest Wits in Johannesburg. It will be a war from the onset to the bitter end in the match between Jomo Cosmos and the University of Pretoria. Orlando Pirates will play against Als Puk Tawana FC, a Vodacom League side that unexpectedly booted Platinum Stars out of the competition last weekend.