Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has heaped praise on Brentford defender Benjamin Frederick ahead of their clash against Rwanda, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 20-year-old made a surprise senior debut in the Unity Cup final against Jamaica after joining the squad at the last minute.
Despite the pressure, the youngster produced a composed display across 90 minutes as Nigeria battled to a 2–2 draw before clinching the trophy on penalties.
His assured performance earned him praises, with coach Eric Chelle and Paris FC forward Moses Simon among those impressed.
What Troost-Ekong Said About the Brentford talent
Troost-Ekong has joined in to praise Frederick’s humility and the role played by fellow Super Eagle Simon in the youngster’s development.
“Benjamin is a humble, hardworking, very talented defender. I think we were all really impressed with what he showed us in the Unity Cup. To win the Unity Cup and also to come in so last minute and play so well is not easy at all, so a big credit to him.
I know how hard he’s worked. Also, big credit to my teammate, Moses Simon, for giving him the opportunity and bringing him to his academy before he came to Brentford. That’s the kind of thing we love to see.
We have a young, talented player who’s going to be the future of Nigeria as a defender, and we have a current very talented Super Eagle who helped him get the opportunity to play professional football and become a Super Eagle.
It’s an amazing story, and I’m looking forward to seeing him continue his development and become important for the team,” Troost-Ekong said.
Frederick’s rise has been rapid. He started his career as a youth player at Moses Simon’s academy, and after he earned a Premier League move to Brentford, he is now being tipped as one of the pillars of Nigeria’s defense for the future.
With Nigeria preparing for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa, Frederick is one of those players expected to provide a timely boost as the three-time African champions aim to secure their World Cup ticket.