The Super Eagles B team suffered a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Mexico, but the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president insists their efforts should be appreciated
NFF President Amaju Pinnick has blamed early goals and inexperience for the Home-based Super Eagles embarrassing loss to Mexico.
Nigeria's national team made up of home-based players except for Ibrahim Sunusi, suffered a 4-0 loss to Mexico in the international friendly played between the two nations on Sunday morning.
The three-time African champions were missing their foreign-based players, and it showed in the performance as the Mexicans dominated from start to finish.
Expectedly, fans bashed the performance of the home-based players, but Pinnick insists the players gave their all.
“I believe the players gave their best in the encounter, and the result could have been different if we didn’t concede those early goals and we took our chances that came immediately after,” Pinnick told the media.
“I am strongly of the belief that the players should be commended for their efforts in the game.”
The NFF President added that Mexico came out on top because their players have the experience of playing o the biggest stage.
“The difference was in greater experience and much more exposure.” Nothing stops our boys from standing up to the Mexicans with a number of games under their belts in the next few months.
Before the match, Pinnick had revealed plans for more friendly games for the home-based players, and he maintained the same position after the game, saying the result did not change anything.
“There is nothing that has happened here that will discourage us from pushing ahead with the plan we have for the team.
“Our programme to get the team to a higher level through regular exposure to the toughest games possible will continue.”
“They did not just lie down to get slaughtered. They put up a fight and were only unlucky.”
“We will go ahead and deliver on the programme we have for them to be a much stronger team, as we look forward to the next African Nations Championship,” he concluded.
