Meyiwa: We fought for SA

Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa says the team were playing for "the pride of the nation" after they booked their place in the CAF Champions League group stages on Sunday.

According to the Football411 website, the Buccaneers headed to the Democratic Republic of Congo to face TP Mazembe with a comfortable 3-1 lead from the first-leg, but would eventually need a sublime outing from their first-choice shot-stopper to maintain their continental adventure.

Meyiwa traveled back to South Africa with the match ball after twice denying the Congolese outfit from the penalty spot, one early in the second-half and another seven minutes from time which, if converted, would have sent Pirates crashing out the tournament.

VIDEO: TP Mazembe v Orlando Pirates - highlights

"This was not a game, it was war," Meyiwa told his club's official website.

"We knew after the initial minutes in the game that we were up for it. A lot of decisions were going against us but fortunately we were mentally prepared for that.

"For the start of the second half we all just told ourselves that, we are going back there to fight. This was no longer a Pirates match, it was more a match to uphold the pride of the nation."