In a significant blow to Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations preparations, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has been forced to find a replacement for key defender Benjamin Fredrick.
The 20-year-old centre-back has been ruled out of the 2025 tournament in Morocco after sustaining a serious knee injury during a training session with his Belgian club, Dender.
Rising Star's Dream Cut Short
Benjamin Fredrick had rapidly become a mainstay in the Nigerian national team defence since making his debut in June of this year. His impressive performances were even beginning to challenge the position of team captain William Troost-Ekong.
The young defender featured prominently during Nigeria's crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier and playoff matches throughout September, October, and November, consistently delivering top-level performances that earned him praise from fans and pundits alike.
Tragically, his dream of representing Nigeria at the continental championship ended abruptly when he suffered the knee injury upon returning to his club after Nigeria's recent loss to DR Congo.
Chelle's Secret Replacement Strategy
According to reliable reports from OwnGoal Nigeria, Eric Chelle has already identified Fredrick's replacement in his preliminary 55-man squad for AFCON 2025.
The manager is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding the identity of the replacement player, while consulting with the Nigeria Football Federation before making the official squad announcement expected in the coming days.
The news of Fredrick's injury has sent shockwaves through Nigerian football circles, as he was considered one of the most important players in the team heading into the tournament.
Growing Defensive Crisis for Super Eagles
Fredrick becomes the third Super Eagles defender to be ruled out or considered doubtful for AFCON 2025, joining Nottingham Forest star Ola Aina and Werder Bremen's Felix Agu on the injury list.
This growing defensive crisis presents a significant challenge for Coach Chelle as he finalizes his plans for the tournament in Morocco. The loss of multiple key defenders so close to the competition could force a tactical reshuffle and test the depth of Nigeria's defensive resources.
Nigerian football fans will be eagerly awaiting the official announcement of the preliminary squad to see how Chelle plans to address these significant defensive absences.
