Super Eagles defender Benjamin Fredrick was missing from Dender FC's matchday squad for their game at Antwerp on Sunday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Fredrick was a mainstay in Nigeria's defense during the just-concluded international break. He featured prominently in the 4-1 victory over Gabon and played the full 120 minutes against DR Congo in the final of the CAF World Cup playoffs.
He was expected to return to action this weekend for his club, Dender, when they traveled to Bosuilstadion for their Jupiler Pro League game against Antwerp.
However, he was conspicuously absent from the matchday squad; he was neither in the starting eleven nor listed on the bench.
This is quite surprising, as Fredrick has been a regular for Dender this season, featuring in 14 league games.
Why Was Benjamin Fredrick Absent From Dender's Game?
As of the time of this report, the reason for Benjamin Fredrick's absence has not been officially ascertained, but it could be tied to fatigue.
He was one of the few Super Eagles players who played the entire 240 minutes for Nigeria in the World Cup playoffs. In the last game against DR Congo, he appeared visibly overworked and struggled to finish the match.
Moreover, he was not mentioned in the club's injury report, suggesting his absence may simply have been to allow him some rest.
AFCON 2025: Should Eric Chelle Be Worried?
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is barely weeks away, so Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle will be watching all the players he will likely call up with keen eyes.
Benjamin Fredrick is undoubtedly one of Nigeria's key defenders, and Chelle would need him to be fully fit.
Dender's next game is against Westerlo on Saturday. Fredrick should be fit and ready to play by then, meaning Eric Chelle needs not worry yet.
