The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been dealt a major blow ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, as young defender Benjamin Fredrick is set to miss the tournament after sustaining a knee injury.
The promising centre-back picked up the injury during a training session with his Belgian club, Dender, on Friday.
Initial medical assessments have ruled him out of action for several weeks, meaning he will not recover in time for AFCON 2025.
Fredrick, who has featured impressively in Nigeria’s recent fixtures, played the last six matches for the Super Eagles and was strongly tipped to be part of Coach Finidi George’s final squad.
Reports indicate that the defender is expected to return to competitive football after the tournament, giving hope for a strong comeback later in the season.
The loss adds to Nigeria’s growing injury concerns as preparations intensify for the continental showpiece, which kicks off on December 21 in Morocco.
