Tremendous Eagles defender Benjamin Fredrick will miss the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations resulting from harm.
The Tremendous Eagles will journey for the competitors with out one in every of their fastest-ascending centre-backs, after FCV Dender confirmed on Friday that the 20-year-old has suffered a knee harm.
The Belgian membership, the place Fredrick has been on mortgage for the reason that begin of the 2025–26 season, introduced the setback by way of an official assertion.
“Benjamin has suffered a knee harm. He’s now starting his rehabilitation in England at Brentford.”
The harm occurred throughout coaching with FCV Dender EH, solely days after the defender returned to Belgium from worldwide obligation, an unlucky twist that got here simply as he appeared poised to cement his place within the nationwide staff’s long-term plans.
A promising rise interrupted
Fredrick, owned by Premier League aspect Brentford FC, had carved out a popularity as one of the reliable younger defenders in Eric Chelle’s squad. Calm below stress and fearless in duels, he had steadily earned Chelle’s belief, constructing momentum towards a possible AFCON breakthrough.
That dream has now been abruptly halted. Medical assessments confirmed that the centre-back is not going to be match to function on the 2025 AFCON, ruling him out of what would have been his first look on the continent’s largest stage. For Nigeria, the timing stings: Fredrick was rising as a dependable possibility in a defensive unit nonetheless looking for hierarchy and long-term stability.
Setback for Participant and Nation
With the defender dominated out till after the conclusion of the match, the Tremendous Eagles might be pressured to navigate the competitors with out his presence, physicality, and tactical readability. It leaves a noticeable hole in Chelle’s backline, one that may take a look at Nigeria’s depth and resilience as they chase continental glory.
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In the meantime, FCV Dender and Brentford will proceed to collectively oversee his rehabilitation in England, hoping that the younger expertise can return to full health within the coming months and resume the upward trajectory that had positioned him as one in every of Nigeria’s subsequent defensive mainstays.
