Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka has described the absence of Benjamin Fredrick from the Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as a major blow, Soccernet.ng reports.
Onyeka, silver medalist at the 2023 AFCON, believes the 20-year-old had already become a key figure in the national team.
Fredrick, who has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a knee injury while on loan at Belgian club Dender FH, had been widely expected to make the final squad for the competition in Morocco.
Instead, Nigeria will now head into AFCON without one of their most rapidly rising defensive talents.
Speaking to the BBC, Onyeka said Fredrick’s impact inside the camp and on the pitch made his absence particularly painful for the squad.
“It’s a big blow for us because Benjamin has integrated himself into the (Nigeria) team and everybody loves him,” said Onyeka.
“He has done so well in the games that he has played. We expected him to be a very big part going into the tournament.
“And as a guy, as a player, he’s just outstanding. The way he reads the game defensively is just so strong.”
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Nigeria’s Benjamin Fredrick: From unknown to indispensable
Just six months ago, Fredrick was largely unknown to many Nigerian football fans.
At the time, he was playing youth-team football at Brentford, having joined the Premier League club following impressive performances with Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the FIFA U20 World Cup.
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His breakthrough moment came during the Unity Cup in May. With injuries and late withdrawals disrupting the Super Eagles squad, head coach Eric Chelle was forced to look deeper into his options, and handed Fredrick an unexpected opportunity.
The youngster took it immediately.
Fredrick impressed straight away, playing with composure and authority as Nigeria went on to defeat Jamaica in the final to win the invitational tournament. His assured performances caught the attention of the coaching staff and senior players alike.
From that point on, Fredrick’s rise was swift. Chelle included him in Nigeria’s final four World Cup qualifiers, as well as the two decisive World Cup play-off matches in Morocco, as the trust already placed in the defender comtinued to grow.
By the time AFCON squad discussions began, Fredrick was no longer viewed as a prospect but as a likely first-choice option in the 28-man squad.
However, that momentum was halted by injury. While on loan at Dender FH in Belgium, Fredrick suffered a knee injury that has ruled him out until the new year, ending his AFCON hopes.
In response, Chelle has named Slavia Prague defender Igoh Ogbu as a replacement and has also called up Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu as back-up at right-back.
Nigeria continue their AFCON preparations with another training session on Tuesday morning, before facing Egypt in a friendly in Cairo later that night. Onyeka is expected to start that match.
The Nigerian delegation will depart Cairo on Thursday for Morocco, where the tournament begins on Sunday. The Super Eagles open their AFCON campaign against Tanzania on Tuesday, December 23, before further group games against Tunisia on December 27 and Uganda on December 30.
While Nigeria remain one of the tournament favourites, Onyeka insists Fredrick’s absence will be deeply felt.