Blackburn  clear air on injured Alebiosu

Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael  has  issued an update on injured Super Eagles defender Ryan Alebiosu at the on-going  2025 Africa Cup of Nations, disclosing that the injury is not “major”.

There was debut delight for Alebiosu, who earned his first cap for Nigeria and featured for the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 victory against Uganda as Eric Chelle’s charges signed off their group stage campaign with a comfortable victory in Morocco.

Chelle was delighted by what he saw from Alebiosu despite the fact that the Rovers man picked  up a gashed leg during the contest.

 “This is his first game in Africa, in AFCON and I’m happy with how he did,” Chelle  said. “I’m worried, because he has an injury. His leg is open (cut), but I’m happy with how he played today.”

It was later reported that he suffered a deep cut on his favoured right leg that could rule him of the rest of the tournament in Morocco.

However, Ismael has allayed  fears on the Super Eagles newly-capped defender, saying: “Ryan Alebiosu played 90 minutes for Nigeria with no problem. He has a cut, but it’s nothing major for us.”

The  Super Eagles  who swept past  their Group C campaign  with  three wins in as many matches will continue their progression  with a Round of 16  fixture against the Mambas of Mozambique  on Monday in Fez. But it remains to be seen if the 24-year-old defender  would  still take part at the AFCON 2025.