Photo Credit: Photo used in original report courtesy of Punch / Blackburn Rovers
Illness Forces Alebiosu Off at Half-Time, Blackburn Coach Explains

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has clarified the reason behind Ryan Alebiosu’s half-time substitution during Rovers’ Championship victory over Millwall at Ewood Park on Saturday.

The Super Eagles defender, who delivered another solid first-half display, was replaced at the break by deadline-day signing Gady Beyuku.

Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire via the Lancashire Telegraph, Mowbray revealed the change was due to illness and not injury, noting that Alebiosu had been battling the issue since earlier in the week.

“Ryan is more illness than injury. The defender had complained about the issue earlier in the week, which could be tonsillitis,” Mowbray said.

The coach added that the defender had spent recent days in the physio room doing recovery work instead of full training.

“It is the physicality of the games over the last week that has caught him out. I am not one hundred per cent sure, but he was in the physio room, who came to see me,” he added.

The news comes as a concern for the Super Eagles, who are already dealing with several injury worries ahead of their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau later this month.

However, the illness is not expected to be long-term, as tonsillitis typically clears within days. Alebiosu is still expected to recover in time to join Eric Chelle’s squad, which opens its qualifying campaign against Madagascar in Uyo on September 25, before facing Guinea-Bissau four days later.

If he fails to recover in time, Chelle’s other right-back options include Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina, Birmingham City’s Bright Osayi-Samuel and Banik Ostrava’s Abdullahi Bewene.
Source: Punch Newspapers