Still on the payroll at Brentford, Benjamin Fredrick’s rise continues to gather pace and some believe the Premier League is next
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Alloy Agu has heaped praise on 20-year-old defender Benjamin Fredrick, comparing the youngster to some of Nigeria’s greatest-ever defenders, including the late Stephen Keshi, Soccernet.ng reports.
Fredrick has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in Nigerian football after a stunning year that has seen him rise from youth tournaments to become a mainstay in the senior national team.
The young centre-back was discovered and nurtured at Simoiben Football Academy, founded by Super Eagles winger Moses Simon’s wife.
He first caught attention during the 2023 U20 AFCON and U20 World Cup, where he was a key figure as Nigeria’s Flying Eagles reached the quarterfinals.
His performances at those tournaments earned him a Super Eagles call-up, and under coach Eric Chelle, he made his senior debut during the invitational Unity Cup, helping Nigeria lift the trophy. Since then, Fredrick has started Nigeria’s last four World Cup qualifying matches, showing versatility and poise whether at centre-back or fullback.
He was particularly impressive in Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 win over Benin, which sealed the team’s place in November’s continental playoff round. It was a performance that had many observers calling him the next big thing in Nigerian defence.
Super Eagles XI vs Benin: Adams and Ajayi start, Arokodare out in decisive 2026 WCQ #NGABEN pic.twitter.com/0iCqckGo81
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Alloy Agu’s Benjamin Fredrick verdict
Agu, who was part of Nigeria’s golden era of the late 1980s and early 1990s, says he has seen enough to believe Fredrick is destined for greatness.
“I think he is a very solid player and has a great future ahead of him and he has displayed that in the several games he has played for Nigeria that there’s something special about him,” Agu told Complete Sports.
“There’s a great future because you see a great player coming up and you can see it by what he is doing, his determination and dedication.
“He’s very calculative and very calm and that’s the attributes you need in a defender. You need a defender that is very calm and very calculative, that’s what I saw in him.”
Agu, who once played alongside some of the most technically gifted defenders Nigeria ever produced, sees shades of the legendary Stephen Keshi, Chidi Nwanu, and Isa Shofoluwe in Fredrick’s game.
“There are so many of them that have almost the same qualities with him,” Agu explained.
“When you look at Chidi Nwanu, a solid defender that doesn’t make so much harassing but knows what he’s doing.
“Also Stephen Keshi, Isa Shofoluwe, we have lots of them. Most of Nigeria’s defenders are very calm which you can liken him to so we expect him to grow more and gain more experience.”
Currently on loan at Belgian side Dender from Premier League club Brentford, Fredrick is already being monitored closely in England, and Agu believes it’s only a matter of time before he makes his mark in one of the world’s top leagues.
“I believe every player that knows what he’s doing and capable of playing for the national team at the highest level and for his club I think that opens the door for you to play in the Premier League,” Agu said.
“I believe the Premier League will be a place for him to announce himself more to the whole world.”
With veterans William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi moving into the latter stages of their careers, Fredrick looks poised to step into a leadership role for Nigeria and perhaps, as many fans now hope, become the Super Eagles’ new Stephen Keshi.