Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says they had the power within their team to match Nigeria’s quality.
South Africa maintain their unbeaten streak at home following their 1-1 draw against the Super Eagles at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday.
The win sees Bafana remain at the top of Group C with 17 points from eight games, while Nigeria dropped to third place on 11 points from eight matches.
Broos’ men will take on Zimbabwe in their next qualifier in October, one win away from securing their place at the World Cup.
“It was a match like I expected, physical match much harder from the opponent, it’s only in the second half when they tried to win the game with power football, but we did a very good game also,” Broos told SABC Sport after the game.
“We had the power in our teams also, we fought for it and I said before the game we will try to win but if it’s a draw then I’m happy also and I’m happy.
“The only thing I said this afternoon also on the pre-match meeting, I said if you can’t win with good football you have to do it with fighting and this is what they did. They fought in the second half for every ball, every metre and there were guys that were really dead but still they sprint.
“But I always said this is a group who wants to go to the World Cup and today was a crucial game. It was a draw- Nigeria stay on six points, it’s up to us now to win one game than we have qualified.”