While some may extol the virtues of Benjamin Fredrick following Nigeria’s 4-1 victory over Gabon in the recent World Cup playoff semi-final, it is essential to critically examine this unwavering praise. Sunday Oliseh’s glowing remarks about Fredrick being “the most influential player” for the Super Eagles raise questions about the objectivity of such accolades, especially when they seem to overshadow the collective effort of the entire team.
Firstly, let’s dissect the notion that Fredrick's performance was singularly impactful. The match was characterized by moments of brilliance from multiple players, including Victor Osimhen, who scored three of the goals. To suggest that Fredrick’s “excellent positioning” and “decisiveness” were the backbone of Nigeria's success is not only misleading but diminishes the role of Osimhen and others who contributed significantly to the scoreboard. It appears Oliseh has chosen to focus on Fredrick perhaps due to his youth and rising profile, rather than acknowledging the broader team dynamics that ultimately led to the victory.
Moreover, the defense's overall performance should be scrutinized. While Fredrick and Calvin Bassey may have played pivotal roles, the fact remains that Gabon managed to equalize rather swiftly. This indicates that there were lapses in the defense that cannot simply be attributed to a lack of effort or skill on Gabon’s part. If we are to champion Fredrick’s capabilities, should we not also consider the moments where he and his defensive partner failed to adequately contain the opposition? It is erroneous to selectively highlight strengths while glossing over weaknesses.
Oliseh’s social media post, laden with enthusiasm for Fredrick, perhaps serves more to ignite feelings of national pride than to provide a fair assessment of the player's contributions. The suggestion that the team should “celebrate today” but focus on the next opponent tomorrow seems to trivialize the challenges ahead. As Nigeria prepares to face either Cameroon or DR Congo, the weight of expectations mounted on Fredrick could prove to be a double-edged sword. Is it fair to place such heavy burdens on a 20-year-old, whose career is still in its infancy?
Furthermore, Fredrick's journey from the Simoiben Academy to Brentford FC and being loaned to K.F.C. Dender E.H. is commendable, but does this alone qualify him to be labeled a game-changer in high-stakes international matches? The move to a European club and subsequent loan experience may provide him with a wealth of knowledge, but it comes with the caveat that he still has much to prove on the international stage. Oliseh’s remarks may set unrealistic expectations for Fredrick to consistently deliver standout performances based solely on his potential and youth.
