AFCON 2025: Nigeria winger Moses Simon worried about Benjamin Frederick’s absence for tournament

Nigerian winger Moses Simon has expressed deep disappointment after injury ruled Benjamin Fredrick out of the Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 20-year-old sustained an injury setback while in action for FCV Dender, ruling him out of the continental showpiece, to be held in Morocco.

Frederick had been a key figure for Nigeria, starting in the last six matches for the Super Eagles.

He was expected to play a pivotal role for the Super Eagles at AFCON 2025, but succumbed to injury, leaving a significant gap in the team’s defense.

Fredrick, a graduate of the Simoiben Academy in Kaduna founded by Simon and his wife Ibukun, was widely tipped to make the final list.

Speaking to ESPN, Simon said, “It is very emotional for me”… adding that playing with Fredrick would have been “an unbelievably big dream”… “like a father and son playing alongside each other”.

The defender’s injury will sideline him until the new year, dealing a blow to a Super Eagles defence that had begun to rely on him this season.

Fredrick, a former Nigerian youth international, made his senior debut during the Unity Cup in London and went on to feature consistently in the World Cup qualifiers.

He stole the show as Nigeria triumphed over Gabon to reach the final of the African World Cup playoff, where the Super Eagles fell short to DR Congo.