Fredrick Ruled Out of AFCON 2025 After Knee Injury

Benjamin Fredrick has been ruled out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a knee injury while training with FCV Dender EH. Nigerian journalist Oluwashina Okeleji confirmed on Tuesday that the 20-year-old “will not recover in time…” for the tournament, ending his hopes of a first major appearance for the Super Eagles.

The Brentford-owned centre-back picked up the injury shortly after returning to Belgium from international duty. He reportedly suffered the setback during a routine session with Dender, where he has been on loan since the start of the 2025–26 season.

The injury is a major blow for Nigeria, as Fredrick had started the team’s last six matches and earned the trust of head coach Eric Chelle. His calmness, aerial presence, and consistent performances had positioned him as one of the country’s brightest young defenders.

Medical reports say he will only return after AFCON, leaving a significant gap in Nigeria’s defence.