‘Nigerians will kill you’: Chukwueze warns Alebiosu about Super Eagles fans on social media

Samuel Chukwueze delivered a funny but brutally honest warning to Ryan Alebiosu about the pressures of representing Nigeria, telling the young defender that poor performances could trigger a social media firestorm from the Super Eagles' notoriously demanding fanbase.

The on loan Fulham winger's honest advice came in a lighthearted but pointed conversation captured on video as the squad prepared for their final group stage match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. 

Chukwueze's message, however, carried serious undertones about the intense scrutiny awaiting any Nigerian international who fails to deliver.

"If you do anyhow, they will kill you on that place," Chukwueze told the 22-year-old Blackburn Rovers full-back, using the colloquial Nigerian phrase to emphasise the consequences of underperforming.

"Better do assist or score or otilo o [it's finished for you]. I will just be on my phone like this 'that right boy, I don't know.'"

The winger, speaking with the authority of someone who has weathered his own storms of criticism during difficult patches with both club and country, continued his mock-serious tutorial on survival tactics.

"If you don't give assist, just cross the ball so that even if Victor [Osimhen] touches it, they will say no problem you crossed. That's when you are safe. I don tell you [I've told you]."

While delivered with humour, Chukwueze's words reflect a genuine reality for Nigerian footballers, where social media backlash and public criticism can be swift and merciless. 

The Super Eagles' passionate global fanbase holds its players to exacting standards, with poor performances often triggering torrents of abuse across Twitter, Instagram and other platforms.

The warning proved prescient as Alebiosu made his senior international debut on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in Nigeria's final Group C encounter. 

Head coach Eric Chelle handed the Blackburn defender his first cap at right-back, replacing regular starter Bright Osayi-Samuel in one of eight changes to a starting lineup that had already secured top spot in the group following victories over Tanzania and Tunisia.

Alebiosu completed the full 90 minutes and earned praise from Chelle for his composure on his maiden outing in the famous green and white. 

However, the debut was marred by a late injury scare when the defender sustained a deep gash to his leg in the closing stages of the match.

Medical staff immediately attended to Alebiosu on the pitch, and he was subsequently taken to a local hospital for treatment following the final whistle. 

The nature of the injury sparked initial fears that his tournament could be over before it truly began, casting doubt over his availability for the knockout rounds.

However, recent assessments from both the Nigerian medical team and officials at Blackburn Rovers have provided more optimistic news. While the cut required stitches and careful monitoring, early indications suggest the injury may not be as serious as initially feared.

The Super Eagles are now preparing for their Round of 16 showdown with Mozambique on January 5, 2026, and Alebiosu is expected to remain with the squad as he continues his recovery. 

Whether he features in that match remains to be seen, but his successful debut, completed without the social media persecution Chukwueze jokingly warned about, has at least given him a platform to build from.

For Chukwueze, who has represented Nigeria 37 times since his 2018 debut, the half-joking, half-serious advice to his younger compatriot came from a place of genuine care. 

The 26-year-old knows firsthand how quickly the Nigerian public's mood can shift, having experienced both adulation and criticism throughout his international career.