Nigeria defender Benjamin Fredrick has been ruled out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after sustaining a knee injury during training at Belgian club Dender on Friday.
The Brentford centre-back, on loan in Belgium, is not expected to recover in time for the tournament in Morocco and will return to action only after the competition concludes.
Fredrick, 20, had started Nigeria’s last six matches under head coach Eric Chelle and had become a central figure in the Super Eagles’ defensive setup.
Photo Credit: Modzero
His absence is a significant setback as Nigeria step up final preparations for the tournament.
Meanwhile, Nigeria have submitted a 55-man provisional list for AFCON 2025 as preparations intensify ahead of next month’s kick-off in Morocco.
Chelle finalised the extended pool in line with CAF’s revised squad rules, which permit teams to register up to 27 players for major competitions. However, CAF will fund only 23 players, leaving federations to cover costs for any additional call-ups.
The list marks the first major step in Nigeria’s build-up, with the Super Eagles’ training camp scheduled to open on 8 December in Morocco. Chelle is expected to cut the squad to between 24 and 27 players ahead of the team’s arrival.
Most of the names are established regulars under Chelle, but several emerging players have also been included. They have been tracked discreetly in recent months and are viewed as long-term options for the national team.
Eric Chelle and Victor Osimhen.Photo Credit: Poojamedia
Chelle has repeatedly emphasised the need for depth, tactical flexibility and mental resilience as Nigeria aim to mount a strong challenge. The Super Eagles reached the final at the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire and have been tasked with going one step further.
READ MORE:wafcon-2026-nff-under-fire-as-super-falcons-demand-games
CAF’s updated squad policy is intended to help teams manage injuries and congested schedules during the tournament, while also encouraging federations to balance competitive ambition with financial realities.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
Nigeria open their AFCON campaign on 23 December, with the tournament running until 18 January.
