Brentford defender Benjamin Frederick has been called up to replace striker Christantus Uche in the Super Eagles squad for the ongoing Unity Cup invitational tournament in the United Kingdom.

Uche, who plays for Spanish club Getafe, was unable to join the national team after failing to secure an entry visa to the United Kingdom. The striker is now expected to link up with the Super Eagles for their international friendly against Russia scheduled for next week Friday.

Frederick, who has already joined the team and participated in Thursday night's training session, comes into the squad following an impressive 2024/25 season with Brentford in the English Premier League. The centre-back's performances earned him Brentford's Young Player of the Season award, highlighting his growing reputation in English football.

The Super Eagles have already secured their place in the Unity Cup final and will face the Reggae Boys of Jamaica on Saturday. Nigeria advanced to the final after defeating Ghana's Black Stars in their previous match, a victory that coach Chelle attributed to the team's deserved performance.

The tournament has provided valuable competitive experience for the national team, with Chelle particularly praising the contributions of home-based players in the victory against Ghana. Meanwhile, Sodiq, who provided assists in the Ghana match, has expressed his desire to continue creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Following the Unity Cup final against Jamaica, the Super Eagles will shift focus to their friendly match against Russia as they continue their preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.