Benjamin Frederick is targeting Nigeria’s friendly against Portugal on June 10 for his comeback to the Super Eagles after recovering from the knee injury that ruled him out of the 2025 AFCON.
The 20-year-old Brentford defender missed the entire continental tournament in Morocco after sustaining the injury during training with Belgian club Dender in November. He has since returned to full fitness and resumed playing for his loan club.
Frederick was ruled out for approximately 12 weeks when he picked up the knee problem shortly after Nigeria’s World Cup playoff matches. The injury forced him to miss Dender’s 2-1 victory over Royal Antwerp and kept him sidelined throughout the AFCON, where Nigeria finished third.
The young defender has now completed his rehabilitation and returned to action for Dender in the Belgian Pro League. His recovery puts him in contention for Eric Chelle’s squad for the upcoming international friendlies.
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed two high-profile friendlies during the FIFA June window. The Super Eagles will first face Poland on June 3 at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw before travelling to Portugal for the second clash on June 10.
The Portugal match will serve as the Europeans final preparation before the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This also gives Nigeria who missed the tournament to be at the World Cup for the second edition in a row an opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition.
The player’s return would strengthen Nigeria’s defensive options ahead of these challenging fixtures. The defender had become one of Chelle’s most trusted players before his injury, starting the Super Eagles’ last six matches before the AFCON.
Benjamin Frederick’s emergence as a first-choice center-back had been one of Nigeria’s success stories during the World Cup playoffs. The youngster completed all 120 minutes against both Gabon and DR Congo, displaying composure and maturity beyond his years.
His performances were so impressive that he displaced captain William Troost-Ekong from the starting lineup. The 20-year-old formed a solid partnership with Calvin Bassey, helping Nigeria keep Gabon’s attack at bay before Victor Osimhen’s extra-time goals secured the semifinal victory.
During Nigeria’s AFCON campaign without him, Semi Ajayi returned to the starting lineup alongside Calvin Bassey as Eric Chelle was forced adjust his defensive structure.
Before the Portugal friendly, Nigeria will defend their Unity Cup title in London from May 26-30. The tournament features Ghana, Jamaica, and will take place at The Valley, home of Charlton Athletic.
Frederick could also feature in this competition as part of his comeback trail, giving him valuable match fitness ahead of the more challenging tests against Poland and Portugal.
His return bolsters Nigeria’s defensive depth at a crucial time as the team continues rebuilding after missing the World Cup and aims to maintain momentum following their AFCON bronze medal finish.
