Coach Eric Chelle will again stick to his big call by starting youngster Benjamin Fredrick ahead of the older and more experienced Super Eagles captain William Ekong in today’s epic clash against home team South Africa.
Fredrick, 20, justified his surprise starting spot with a flawless display in the heart of the back four playing alongside Calvin Bassey.
An impressed Ekong described the performance as “amazing”.
However, critics argued that Rwanda did not offer much going forward and so the youngster was not really tested.
“He deserved his place in the Starting XI,” an inside source informed SCORENigeria
“He is younger, faster and more athletic than Ekong that even Victor Osimhen found him a tough nut to crack in training.”
The FC Dender loanee, who made his full international debut against Jamaica in May, will face his toughest test at full international level today as the Super Eagles seek victory to stay alive in the qualifying series to the 2026 World Cup.
