Benjamin Fredrick ready to shine for Super Eagles as he returns for AFCON qualifiers

Benjamin Fredrick will return to the Super Eagles as Nigeria prepares for its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash against Madagascar on Friday.

The young defender returns to the national team after recovering from a knee injury that kept him out for several months. Fredrick’s last appearance for Nigeria was during the 2026 FIFA World Cup African play-offs against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in November 2025, and he also featured in the previous clash against Gabon.

His return provides head coach Eric Chelle with another versatile defensive option, having previously impressed at both central defense and right back since making his debut for the Super Eagles.

Fredrick quickly established himself as a reliable member of the national team during his breakout campaign. He gave a composed performance on his debut against Jamaica and subsequently featured prominently in Nigeria’s World Cup qualification.

One of his standout performances came in Nigeria’s 4–0 victory over Benin, where he was praised for his defensive composure, positional awareness and duel-winning ability. He also impressed in the World Cup playoff against Gabon, where he helped contain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Bouanga.

With the setback of his injury now behind him, Fredrick hopes to pick up where he left off and once again prove his worth to the Super Eagles when Nigeria take on Madagascar in Uyo.

The return of the 21-year-old defender gives Chelle another player capable of providing pace, strength and flexibility in the backline as Nigeria begin their final AFCON qualifying campaign.