Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu is one of the new faces called upon by Eric Chelle to inject some freshness and competition in the Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad, Footynaija.com reports.
In the absence of experienced 29-year-old right-back Ola Aina, who is still recovering from a hamstring surgery, Alebiosu is expected to provide competition for fellow EFL Championship star Bright Osayi-Samuel as Nigeria take aim at a fourth AFCON triumph.
But who exactly is Ryan Alebiosu and what should fans of the Super Eagles expect from Chelle’s latest defensive recruit ahead of the highly anticipated tournament in Morocco?
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Born in England but destined for green and white
Alebiosu may have been born in London, but his football journey has always had Nigeria waiting at the finish line.
Eligible for both England and Nigeria, the Blackburn Rovers full-back finally chose the motherland ahead of AFCON 2025, securing his Nigerian passport and earning a first-ever senior call-up from Eric Chelle.
For a player who never featured for Nigeria at youth level, stepping straight into an AFCON squad says everything about Chelle’s belief in his potential.
His club career so far has been a journey of hard work and perseverance. The 23-year-old started at Arsenal’s academy, where he spent a full decade learning the craft before turning professional in 2020.
But instead of waiting on the sidelines for his opportunity, he went on loans to Crewe Alexandra, Kilmarnock and St Mirren. He also enjoyed a short stint in Belgium with Kortrijk.
All of it led to his big step in July 2025, when Blackburn Rovers signed him on a long-term deal. He didn’t take long to settle either, with his consistent performances showing exactly why he’s rated as one of the Championship’s most improved full-backs.
What does Ryan Alebiosu bring to the Super Eagles?
Alebiosu is stepping into the Super Eagles’ AFCON squad in place of one of Nigeria’s most reliable personnels in Ola Aina. With fellow Championship star Osayi-Samuel as his competition, the 23-year-old will be fancying his chances of tying down a starting shirt in Chelle’s set-up.
He has featured in all of Blackburn’s twenty EFL Championship games so far, making the starting XI on nineteen occasions and contributing one goal plus a couple of assists. So with his capabilities not in any doubt, the onus rests on head coach Chelle to provide Alebiosu with the opportunity to impress in Morocco.
