‘For believing in me’ - Emergency Super Eagles star breaks silence, hails coach Chelle for debut

Newly capped Super Eagles defender Benjamin Fredrick has opened up about his memorable debut for Nigeria, expressing heartfelt gratitude to head coach Eric Chelle and the coaching staff for their trust and support.

Many were surprised when Fredrick, a Brentford academy defender, was called up to the senior team following a withdrawal by skipper Ahmed Musa, who left the London camp after featuring against Ghana to attend to personal issues.

His impressive performances at the Unity Cup final against Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz and subsequent inclusion in the squad for the friendly against Russia have marked a promising start to his international career.

Taking to his Instagram page, Fredrick shared an inspiring message reflecting on the significance of his first appearance for the national team.

“Every great story has a beginning,” he stated. “The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.”

“All glory to God for my Super Eagles 🦅 debut. The journey continues. Huge thanks to the manager and the incredible coaching staff for believing in me,” he added.

Coach Eric Chelle’s decision to hand Fredrick his debut shows the new manager’s willingness to trust emerging talents and inject fresh energy into the Super Eagles squad.

Fredrick’s gratitude highlights the importance of belief and opportunity in shaping a player’s journey at the highest level.

While Fredrick continues to reflect on his debut, Nigerians and analysts will be watching closely to see how this young defender develops under Chelle’s guidance and contributes to Nigeria’s future success on the international stage.

The youngster is now in line to start against Russia this Friday as Chelle looks to build on the Unity Cup performances.