Boluwatife Kehinde Super Eagles defender Benjamin Fredrick has reportedly been ruled out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a knee injury during a training session with Belgian club FCV Fender EH, where he is currently on loan from Brentford. Sports journalist Ademola Victor announced the development on his WhatsApp channel on Tuesday, stating: “Super Eagles defender Benjamin Fredrick has reportedly been ruled out of AFCON 2025 after sustaining a knee injury in training with his club in Belgium. He is expected to return after the tournament, although we are still awaiting further confirmation.” Victor expressed how unfortunate the situation is, especially given the defender’s recent rise in form: “This is tough news. A few months ago many people wouldn’t have reacted this strongly— that’s how much Benjamin has grown and how important he has become to the national team.” Victor added The 20-year-old quickly cemented his place in the Super Eagles setup after making his debut in the 2–2 draw against Jamaica on May 31, 2025, a match Nigeria eventually won on penalties to lift the Unity Cup. His impressive performances earned him six consecutive appearances under head coach Eric Chelle. Fredrick’s setback comes at a difficult time for Nigeria, with the defender expected to feature in the preliminary squad list scheduled to be released soon. His absence is also a major blow for FCV Fender EH, who currently sit at the bottom of their league table with eight points from 15 matches. Post navigation UCL drama as Chelsea face Barcelona, Man City host Leverkusen on crucial matchday CAF approves revised squad rules as Nigeria prepares for 2025 AFCON
