Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle has been dealt an untimely setback with highly rated defender Benjamin Fredrick expected to miss the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after sustaining a knee injury during training, Footynaija.com reports.
The 20-year-old picked up the setback on Friday while preparing with Belgian side FCV Dender EH, where he is on loan from Premier League club Brentford. His absence marks a significant loss for Nigeria ahead of the continental showpiece in Morocco.
Related Post
News of the injury was confirmed by veteran BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, who announced the development on Tuesday via his X handle.
“BrentfordFC’s Nigeria defender Benjamin Fredrick set to miss #AFCON2025 with knee injury picked up in training at Belgian club Dender on Friday,” he wrote, adding that the player is expected to be back after the tournament.
Okeleji also noted that the youngster has started Nigeria’s last six matches under Chelle.
#BrentfordFC‘s #Nigeria defender Benjamin Fredrick set to miss #AFCON2025 with knee injury picked up in training at Belgian club Dender on Friday.
Expected to return to action after the tournament.
The rising star started his country’s last six games under Eric Chelle.
❤️ pic.twitter.com/aIh8fGVlu1
— Olúwashínà Okeleji (@oluwashina) November 25, 2025
Fredrick has quickly grown into one of the most dependable young defenders in the Super Eagles set-up since making his senior debut in the Unity Cup final against Jamaica in London.
Nigeria won the tie on penalties, and the composed defender’s performance earned him the trust of the coaching staff. Since then, he has featured in six consecutive matches for the national team, operating both at centre-back and right-back.
His injury further complicates matters for relegation-threatened FCV Dender. The Belgian Pro League side sit bottom of the table with eight points from 15 matches, and Fredrick had been a regular contributor, making 14 league appearances and starting 10 of them. With his return not expected until January, Dender must now identify solutions to stabilise their defence as they continue their survival fight.
