Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has accused Kaizer Chiefs of being spiteful by hosting Al Ahly in South Africa.

He said this in a post-match interview after Sundowns beat Al Ahly 1-0 at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg to compete a double over the CAF Champions League holders in Group A.

Ahead of the game, the Soweto giants opened the doors for Al Ahly to train at Chiefs Village at Naturena.

In reaction, Mngqithi claimed that his team’s squad could not use the home changing room at FNB Stadium because Al Ahly occupied it. FNB is Chiefs home ground.

“I wish I could say beating the champions but I think what makes it sweeter for me is beating a collaboration [Al Ahly and Chiefs],” he said in a post-match interview.

“At FNB, you could not use the Chiefs changing room. I mean our countrymen could not use the changing room but this changing room was open for Al Ahly now against us.

“For me winning this game was sweeter because I think Chiefs were being spiteful by opening the changing room to Al Ahly,” he added.

Mngqithi said it was important for people to appreciate that Sundowns were representing the whole South Africa in the CAF Champions League game.

“We don’t talk about this thing because we respect and we are patriotic. We have been in this space of the Champions League for many years now,” he said.

“Wydad [Casablanca] wanted to train at our facility when they came to play Chiefs last year but we did not allow it as that would have meant we are forming an alliance with people from outside.

“For me more than beating Al Ahly this is a good lesson on patriotism. When we compete at this stage, we are competing with the badge; the flag of the country.”

There was no immediate reaction from Chiefs as we went to press.

During the game, Sundowns completed a double over the CAF Champions League holders to close in on a quarterfinal berth.

Sundowns have 10 points whereas Al Ahly, Al Merreikh and Al Hilal have four points each and only one team can join the leaders in the quarterfinal stage.