“A big deal for my family” – Super Eagles star opens up on AFCON 2025 experience

Super Eagles and Blackburn Rovers full-back Ryan Alebiosu has opened up on his AFCON 2025 experience with Nigeria in Morocco, Afrik Foot reports.

The 24-year-old was a shock inclusion in Eric Chelle’s squad, largely because Ola Aina and Benjamin Frederick picked up injuries that ruled them out of the tournament.

Bright Osayi-Samuel needed a deputy, and Alebiosu was Chelle’s joker card. The Arsenal Academy graduate made his debut in Nigeria’s final group game against Uganda, but he suffered an injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament in that fixture.

Super Eagles: Alebiosu speaks on AFCON 2025 experience

Born in Islington, England, the former Kilmarnock defender admitted representing Nigeria meant a lot to him and his family.

“I still think about it every day till this point. It was brilliant, walking out for your nation, everyone watching you,” Ryan Alebiosu said in an interview with ESPN.

“It was a great achievement for my family and me. It was just an honour, to be honest. To play for your national team, it’s always an honour, great experience.

“I came out with an injury, which was a bit frustrating because then I couldn’t finish off the tournament, which was a bit annoying.

“I think 10 days in, when they started to add more days, that’s when I knew it was gonna affect me. That’s when they told me 50-50 if you will make it through this tournament.

The worthwhile experience of the AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco has Alebiosu dreaming of participating in the next edition.

“That’s something that I strive for, something that I work for. Hopefully, the next AFCON, I can be a part of as well.

“But right now, obviously, focusing on club football and what I can do,” the Rovers full-back concluded.

Blackburn Rovers have accrued 35 points from 32 league games. Only West Bromwich Albion (34), Portsmouth (33), Leicester City (32), Oxford United (28), and Sheffield Wednesday (-7) have amassed fewer in that time