Nigeria Professional Football League players have blamed inexperience for the Super Eagles B’s 4-0 loss to Mexico in an international friendly in front of a packed LA Coliseum on Sunday.

A brace from captain Hector Herrera and strikes from Rogelio Funes Mori and Jonathan dos Santos condemned the Eagles, made up largely of home-based players, to their biggest defeat in over two decades.

The Mexicans, who used the tie as part of preparations for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, scored twice in the first four minutes before adding two more goals in the second half to seal the match they fully dominated with goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera pretty comfortable all 90 minutes.

Reacting to the loss, former Kano Pillars and Lobi Stars defender, Reuben Ogbonnaya, said the home-based players were probably overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

“The Mexican players are exposed and play for some of the biggest clubs in the world. Most of our boys were playing outside Africa and at this level for the first time.

“Some of them were intimidated by the crowd and the level of the opponents but they did their best. If they continue getting exposure like, they will surely get better,” Ogbonnaya said.

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Nasarawa United defender Emmanuel Makama added, “I won’t fault the players for their performance. I was not surprised by the scoreline because this is their first time travelling out of the country for such a match. Some of them I guess were overwhelmed but with more games like this, if possible, they will get better.”

“I think there wasn’t enough time for the Nigerian team to bond very well before the game. Yes, the result says it all,” Lobi Stars goalkeeper Daniel Atsaka told The UGAMATV.