Benjamin Fredrick, Nigerian defender for Brentford FC, wearing the club’s red-and-white striped jersey during a match
Benjamin Frederick on Brentford Jersey


Nigeria’s Super Eagles left Brentford defender Benjamin Fredrick unused during their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches in late September.

The 21-year-old centre-back, recently recovered from a serious knee injury sustained in November 2025, was not selected for meaningful minutes in the 2-1 home win over Madagascar in Uyo or the 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau. 

Fredrick had returned to the national team setup after a lengthy rehabilitation that kept him out for most of the previous season and limited his club appearances.

According to reports, Brentford advised the Nigeria coaching staff against allowing the young defender to play extended periods as he continues building match fitness following the long layoff. 

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle also chose caution, particularly for the away fixture in Bissau, where the pitch conditions were widely described as poor. Chelle preferred not to risk an only partially match-ready player on the difficult surface, opting instead for more established defensive options such as Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi.

Fredrick is now expected to feature in Nigeria’s upcoming international friendly against Russia on October 6 in Nizhny Novgorod. The match offers Chelle a lower-stakes opportunity to reintegrate the defender after his absence from the competitive qualifiers.