Alebiosu Illness Raises Concerns for Super Eagles Ahead of Qualifiers

Ryan Alebiosu, a defender for Blackburn Rovers, was substituted at half-time during the club’s Championship victory over Millwall at Ewood Park on Saturday due to illness. Blackburn coach Tony Mowbray revealed that Alebiosu had been struggling with this issue since earlier in the week.

Despite an impressive first-half performance, he was replaced by Gady Beyuku. Mowbray stated that Alebiosu's condition was more related to illness than injury, suggesting a possible tonsillitis diagnosis.

Alebiosu had been experiencing discomfort for several days leading up to the match and had focused on recovery during training. This update is particularly concerning for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, as the team is already facing a significant injury list ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar on September 25 and Guinea-Bissau on September 29.

Alebiosu must recover fully to be considered for selection, with alternative right-back options including Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Abdullahi Bewene.