Fredrick’s Injury a Major Blow to Nigeria’s AFCON Plans — Sodje

Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has described Benjamin Fredrick’s injury as a huge setback for Nigeria ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Fredrick, on loan from Brentford, was injured during training shortly after featuring in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The timing means he is expected to miss the tournament in Morocco, ruling him out of Eric Chelle’s squad.

Fredrick had recently become a key part of the national team despite being the youngest player in the squad. He featured in every minute of Nigeria’s last six competitive games and earned praise for strong performances, including a standout showing in the 4-1 win over Gabon where he kept Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang quiet.

Sodje said the defender’s absence will hurt the team, stressing his growing importance and ability to play multiple roles. “Fredrick will be a massive miss for the national team for the Africa Cup of Nations. It's going to be a shame he’s not going to make it,” he said, adding that the youngster “has every attribute to become a very good player… he’s definitely one for the future.”

He noted that Fredrick’s composure and versatility—capable of playing across defence or even in midfield—made him “a big miss,” before wishing him a quick recovery.