Super Eagles winger reacts emotionally as young defender misses AFCON 2025 after knee injury setback.

Moses Simon, Benjamin Fredrick

Super Eagles star Moses Simon has shared his disappointment over the absence of Benjamin Fredrick from the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The defender suffered a knee injury last month while training with his Belgian club, Dender, ruling him out of the tournament in Morocco.

The setback means the 20-year-old will only return to action in the new year. Fredrick has quickly become an important part of the national team setup, making his debut against Jamaica in May and impressing with his defensive maturity.

For Simon, the news is personal. Through his Simoiben Academy, he played a key role in discovering and mentoring the young centre-back. Speaking to ESPN, Simon revealed how emotional the situation feels:

“It is very emotional for me. It is an unbelievable big dream to play with the young one you helped to the top. The feeling is something else. It is like a father and son playing alongside each other.”

Simon added that Fredrick’s absence is not just heartbreaking on a personal level, but also a major loss for the Super Eagles heading into AFCON:

“I am sad that he will not be here. Not because I just want us to play together, but because he will help us if he was here.”

The injury comes at a time when Nigeria are preparing to finalise their squad and chase continental glory in Morocco. For Fredrick, this setback may delay his AFCON dream but his future in the national team remains bright.