Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu has attributed the team’s 4-0 defeat by Argentina in their round of 16 tie at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup to the players’ lack of character.

The Flying Eagles, who sneaked into the Round of 16 as one of the best losers, were thoroughly beaten 4-0 by the Argentines on Wednesday night.The coach lamented in the post match interview: “The early goal is part of what destabilised us. We conceded a goal very early in the game. Even the second goal came not long after the first.

“But nonetheless, I believe the boys did not display positive character. Actually, what I think happened in the match is that our level of fight when we didn’t have the ball was not enough.

“That gave the Argentines the opportunity to operate freely, as they saw a lot of space. So, whenever we lost the ball, we did not respond quickly enough.”

He said football is sometimes unpredictable, adding, however, “I take the blame. I take full responsibility, not the boys. When they won, they won, when they lost, I accepted responsibility.”