2017–18 National First Division

The 2017–18 National First Division was the season from August 2017 to May 2018 of South Africa's second tier of professional soccer, the National First Division.^[1]

National First Division

Season	2017–18
Champions	Highlands Park
Promoted	Highlands Park Black Leopards
Relegated	Mthatha Bucks Super Eagles F.C.
Matches played	240
Goals scored	547 (2.28 per match)
← 2016–17 2018–19 →

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Highlands Park	30	21	6	3	65	13	+52	69	Promotion to 2018–19 South African Premier Division
2	Black Leopards	30	14	8	8	42	21	+21	50	Qualification to Promotion play-offs
3	Jomo Cosmos	30	14	7	9	46	35	+11	49
4	Real Kings F.C.	30	11	12	7	34	25	+9	45
5	Witbank Spurs	30	11	12	7	35	30	+5	45
6	Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila[a]	30	11	8	11	32	44	−12	41
7	Cape Town All Stars	30	9	13	8	29	26	+3	40
8	Stellenbosch F.C.	30	10	10	10	29	36	−7	40
9	Royal Eagles	30	8	12	10	40	41	−1	36
10	University of Pretoria	30	9	9	12	35	46	−11	36
11	Uthongathi	30	7	13	10	21	25	−4	34
12	Richards Bay[b]	30	8	10	12	27	40	−13	34
13	Mbombela United	30	10	6	14	28	40	−12	36
14	Ubuntu Cape Town[c]	30	7	11	12	31	38	−7	32
15	Super Eagles F.C.	30	7	11	12	26	40	−14	32	Relegation to 2018–19 SAFA Second Division
16	Mthatha Bucks	30	4	10	16	27	47	−20	22

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/league/south-african-national-first-division/table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored;
Notes:

1. The league license for Milano United F.C. was purchased by ABC Motsepe franchise Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila F.C. after the fixtures had been announced but before the fixtures had taken place.
2. The first season for Richards Bay F.C., the club was created following the sale of the league license to AmaZulu F.C.
3. The first season for Ubuntu Cape Town F.C., the club was created following the purchase of the league license of F.C. Cape Town

Playoffs

Pos	Lge	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	NFD	Black Leopards (P)	4	2	2	0	6	4	+2	8	Promotion to 2018–19 South African Premier Division
2	NFD	Jomo Cosmos	4	1	2	1	4	4	0	5
3	PRE	Platinum Stars (R)	4	0	2	2	3	5	−2	2	Relegation to 2018–19 National First Division

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored;
(P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Black Leopards	1–0	Platinum Stars
Nange 65'	Report

16 May 2018 (2018-05-16)

Thohoyandou Stadium, Thohoyandou

Jomo Cosmos	2–2	Black Leopards
Mgunda 17' Tlolane 90'+2'	Report	Musonda 13', 62'

20 May 2018 (2018-05-20)

Vosloorus Stadium, Johannesburg

Platinum Stars	0–0	Jomo Cosmos
	Report

23 May 2018 (2018-05-23)

Moruleng Stadium, Moruleng

Platinum Stars	2–2	Black Leopards
Koapeng 23', 84'	Report	Musonda 51' (87)

26 May 2018 (2018-05-26)

Moruleng Stadium, Moruleng

Black Leopards	1–0	Jomo Cosmos
Tshepe 25'	Report

30 May 2018 (2018-05-30)

Thohoyandou Stadium, Thohoyandou

Jomo Cosmos	2–1	Platinum Stars
Hlongwane 11' Tlolane 90+2'	Report	Koapeng 46'

2 June 2018 (2018-06-02)

Vosloorus Stadium, Johannesburg

See also

• 2017-18 South African Premier Division
• 2017-18 Nedbank Cup