Dender EH of Belgium centre back, Benjamin Chimela Fredrick, is enjoying rave reviews and basking in the euphoria of attention, following his sterling role while in action for the Super Eagles against Rwanda on Saturday.
Sports247 reports that, in what was only his second match for Nigeria, the lanky lad, who is on loan from Brentford of England to Dender, was given a starting role ahead of Eagles’ captain, William Troost-Ekong, and he made the best of it for all 90 minutes of the game at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
While many Nigerians still blame Ekong for allowing Zimbabwe to net a very costly equaliser at the same venue in the Eagles’ immediate previous game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a different story unfolded for Fredrick, who just a few years earlier gained his first marks in national team colours at the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Right after the final whistle on Saturday, even Ekong had to put aside widespread insinuations that his bench role was punishment for his costly error against the Warriors of Zimbabwe, as he opted to hail the 20-year-old Fredrick instead.
“Congratulations to Benjamin, because he played very well,” Ekong declared warmly. “He played an amazing game. It’s not easy coming into a game like this, with all the pressure and at his age. We know it’s not an easy thing, but he answered every question and played well in a game loaded with a lot of pressure.”
Ekong also pushed aside enquiries by journalists who wanted to know what he thought about having to start from the bench, preferring instead to give full credit to Fredrick, who was recently named Brentford B-team player of the year 2025.
“At his age and playing at home in Uyo is not an easy thing. That’s the real answer. So, congratulations to him, to the fans and everyone else,” the Al-Kholood of Saudi Arabia defender reiterated
