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Afcon blow for Nigeria as injured Fredericks withdraw, Tanimu poised for Nigeria call-up

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Afcon blow for Nigeria as injured Fredericks withdraw, Tanimu poised for Nigeria call-up

By Dayo Awoniyi

Nigeria’s build-up to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been dealt another major setback, with defender Benjamin Fredericks ruled out of the tournament following a knee injury.

The development comes just days after the Super Eagles’ agonizing failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria fell 4–3 on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo on November 16 after a 1–1 draw in extra time, confirming a second straight miss of football’s global showpiece.

Fredericks, one of the standout performers during Nigeria’s World Cup playoff campaign, had been expected to play a crucial role for head coach Eric Chelle at AFCON.

However, the Dender FC centre back missed Sunday’s Belgian Pro League fixture against Royal Antwerp, with medical assessments confirming he will not regain fitness before the tournament kicks off on December 21.

His absence has shifted focus to Benjamin Tanimu, the in-form defender impressing at Moroccan side Maghreb de Fès. Known for his physicality, composure, and consistency, Tanimu has emerged as the leading candidate to step into the Super Eagles’ defence.

The 23-year-old, who began his professional career at Bendel Insurance before spells with Singida Black Stars in Tanzania and subsequently in Morocco, earned his first senior Nigeria call-up in March 2024.

He made his Super Eagles debut on March 22, starting in the team’s 2–1 victory over Ghana.

With AFCON fast approaching, Tanimu’s rise offers Nigeria a timely defensive option as the team seeks continental redemption after a turbulent month.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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