Nigeria star taken to hospital as double AFCON injury blow revealed | OneFootball

Not all good news for the soaring Super Eagles after third straight win at Africa Cup of Nations

Nigeria defender Ryan Alebiosu was taken to hospital for treatment on a leg injury suffered at the Africa Cup of Nations.

It was one of eight changes made by head coach Eric Chelle to his Nigeria side following Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 win over Tunisia, with their passage through to the last 16 as Group C winners already guaranteed after back-to-back opening victories.

Uganda saw replacement goalkeeper Salim Magoola sent off for handling the ball outside his penalty area, with Rogers Mato netting a late consolation goal as they were consigned to the bottom of the group and headed home early, with Tunisia and Tanzania both advancing after a 1-1 draw in Rabat - the latter for the first time in AFCON history.

But Alebiosu’s status for the remainder of the tournament is now uncertain, with Chelle revealing that the London-born defender had to go to hospital for treatment on a nasty cut suffered late in the second half.

“It’s difficult to play, this is his first game in Africa, in AFCON, I am happy with what he did but I’m a little worried because he has an injury,” Chelle told reporters when asked to assess Alebiosu’s debut for the Super Eagles.

“When they [Uganda] scored the goal, he had a big... I don’t know the word in English but he went to the hospital. It’s open. His leg is open.

“I’m happy about how he played today and I have a lot of choice right now.”

Reports on social media then confirmed that it was a deep cut sustained by Alebiosu, while Panathinaikos striker Cyriel Dessers, who has yet to play at this AFCON, is said to be set for a scan on Wednesday to assess a thigh issue.

Nigeria have no suspension worries for a last-16 showdown against the third-place finishers from Group F - likely Cameroon or Mozambique - in Fez next Monday night (January 5), with the likes of Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman all rested against Uganda having carried a suspension risk.

Star striker Victor Osimhen started and played all but three minutes on Tuesday despite picking up a slight knock against Tunisia along with Nwabali and Frank Onyeka and also being one yellow card away from a ban, though managed to avoid being cautioned.

Nigeria are already without two defenders due to injury at AFCON in Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina and Brentford’s Benjamin Fredrick.