Blackburn Rovers are celebrating Ryan Alebiosu’s first senior international call-up. The defender has swiftly risen from relative obscurity to national recognition. He will now represent Nigeria.
The Sky Bet Championship club proudly confirmed the news. Coach Jose Peseiro reportedly named Alebiosu in Nigeria’s 28-man provisional squad. This selection is for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The announcement came earlier this week, on December 11.
Alebiosu’s Rise to the Super Eagles
Alebiosu, 23, was born in England. His parents are Nigerian. He was eligible to play for either country. However, he has now committed his international future to the Super Eagles. Until recently, many Nigerian fans did not know him. His inclusion was one of the squad’s surprises.
This call-up comes at a critical moment for Nigeria. First-choice defenders Ola Aina and Benjamin Fredrick are currently injured. Alebiosu is expected to compete for a prominent role. The tournament is set to be held in Morocco.
Blackburn Rovers’ Reaction
Blackburn acknowledged the immediate impact of losing their right-back. This departure occurs at a crucial stage of their current campaign. Yet, the club underscored the importance of his achievement.
“Rovers are disappointed to lose a key player,” the club stated on its official website. “This comes at such a crucial stage in the season. However, we are proud of Ryan’s progress. He joined Ewood Park last summer. This move has earned him international recognition for the first time.”
Alebiosu is preparing to join his new international teammates. This will happen after Blackburn’s Championship fixture against Portsmouth on Saturday.
Since his summer arrival at Ewood Park, the defender has been a consistent presence. Manager Valérien Ismaël has heavily relied on him. Alebiosu has started all 19 of Blackburn’s Sky Bet Championship matches this season. He has firmly established himself as a key player for the team.
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