Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have suffered a major setback, as Super Eagles defender Benjamin Frederick has been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury. The 20-year-old sustained the injury during a training session with his Belgian club, Dender FC, on Thursday.
Frederick had emerged as one of the bright spots in Nigeria’s unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and had become a key figure under coach Eric Chelle. His impressive form even pushed team captain William Troost-Ekong to the bench during the last round of qualifiers, making him one of the favourites for a place in the AFCON squad.
Currently on loan from Brentford, the young defender was sent to Belgium to gain first-team experience and has been a regular starter since making his international debut earlier in the year. His absence is expected to be deeply felt as Nigeria prepares to compete in Group C against Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.
Reports from Belgium indicate that Frederick will be out for the remainder of the year, ruling him out well beyond the AFCON window, which runs from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. His recovery timeline means he will only return to action long after the continental championship concludes.
