Brentford U21 defender Benjamin Fredrick has linked up with the Super Eagles ahead of Nigeria’s Unity Cup final clash with Jamaica on Saturday, May 31, at the GTech Community Stadium, Footynaija.com reports.
The 19-year-old centre-back was spotted at the team’s training camp on Wednesday, sparking speculation he may be handed a surprise senior debut.
Fredrick was reportedly invited as a late replacement for Getafe midfielder Christantus Uche, who withdrew from the squad due to personal reasons.
JUST IN @BrentfordFC U21 player of the season, Benjamin Frederick has joined the Super Eagles in London.
— MR OLAWALE QUADRI (@QualityQuadry) May 29, 2025
The ex-Flying Eagles defender trained with the Super Eagles this evening and may be available for selection on Saturday.
Congratulations Benjamin ✌️ pic.twitter.com/gafLLQLBn2
Fredrick, a standout performer for Brentford’s development side this season, was recently named the club’s U21 Player of the Year. The Kaduna-born talent joined the Premier League outfit from Simoiben Academy and has impressed with his composure and defensive maturity.
A former Nigeria U20 international, Fredrick played every minute as the Flying Eagles finished third at the 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. He was also part of the squad that featured at the FIFA U-20 World Cup later that year.
Ft in London #TheUnityCup #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/3DjcjX7CqR
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) May 28, 2025
It remains unclear whether Fredrick will be included in the matchday squad for Saturday’s final, but his presence in training aligns with head coach Eric Chelle’s strategy to blend emerging talents into the Super Eagles setup.
Meanwhile, team captain Ahmed Musa has left the camp due to personal reasons.
The veteran forward made his first appearance since AFCON 2023 in Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Ghana on Wednesday but will not be available for the final against Jamaica.
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