Nigeria Could Lose Ryan Alebiosu and Cyriel Dessers to Injury at AFCON 2025

Nigeria may be facing injury concerns ahead of the knockout stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with TalkTalk Nigeria reporting that Ryan Alebiosu could miss the remainder of the tournament. The right-back, making his first appearance for the Super Eagles in a major competition, sustained a deep cut on his right leg during Nigeria’s 3–1 victory over Uganda at the Complexe Sportif de Fès.

Alebiosu, 22, played the full 90 minutes on the night, marking an impressive debut despite the unfortunate injury. Forward Cyriel Dessers also faces fitness doubts after suffering a thigh problem; he is expected to undergo a scan on Wednesday to determine his availability for the rest of the competition.

Opinion: Injuries are always a concern in tournaments, and losing young talents like Alebiosu or a forward like Dessers could test Nigeria’s squad depth. However, the Super Eagles have shown resilience and depth in their squad so far, and these challenges might provide opportunities for other players to step up. Fans will be hoping that both recover quickly and that coach Eric Chelle can make the necessary tactical adjustments to keep Nigeria’s AFCON campaign on track.