‘The team helped me a lot’ - Super Eagles newbie reveals injury frustration in his first AFCON

Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu has opened up about the frustration of having his first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with Nigeria's Super Eagles disrupted by injury.

For his debut official tournament with the Super Eagles, Alebiosu was selected by Eric Chelle to participate in the ongoing AFCON competition.

However, the right-back's debut in the 2025 tournament was cut short, a setback he admitted was difficult to handle mentally.

Alebiosu speaks on injury at AFCON

Speaking ahead of Egypt clash, he said, "Obviously, it's a bit frustrating," Alebiosu said when asked about the injury's impact. "For my first AFCON, I wanted to show more, show what I could do."

Despite the personal disappointment, he credited the team's unity for helping him through the recovery process. "When this happened, it obviously played a little bit of a part, but the team came together and helped me a lot," he explained.

Alebiosu noted that the Super Eagles' strong performances on the pitch were a significant source of encouragement. "Watching the team, supporting the team, winning games—it boosted my morale and helped everything get better," he stated. "Now I'm back, so I'm just obviously grateful."

Beyond the pitch, Alebiosu embraced the cultural experience of the tournament. "Yeah, it's wonderful. You know, obviously back to African roots. It's brilliant," he said. "It's amazing bringing back the culture and stuff. It's a wonderful experience."

Having returned to full training, Alebiosu is available as the Super Eagles prepare for their final match. After a semi-final loss to Morocco in a penalty shootout, Nigeria will face Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday.