Arsenal defender aware of interest from Nigeria, reveals Bassey did well at Rangers 

Talented Arsenal-owned fullback Ryan Alebiosu is on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation with a view to a call up to Nigeria's Olympic National Team.

According to The Times UK (subscription required),  Alebiosu's parents are Nigerian and he has been made aware of interest in involving him in the country's age grade teams. 

Born December 17, 2001, the Hale End Academy graduate is not age-eligible to feature for the Flying Eagles at next year's U20 Africa Cup of Nations, so a potential call up to the Olympic Team sounds more logical. 

Alebiosu would bring versatility to the Nigeria U23s national team if invited as he's capable of playing as a left-back, right-back, wing-back as well as a midfielder. 

The 20-year-old has trained with Arsenal's first team on countless occasions and received two call ups for first team matches against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and Burnley in the Premier League in 2022.

Alebiosu provided an insight into his decision to join Kilmarnock on a season-long loan in the summer transfer window, saying that Super Eagles central defender Calvin Bassey performed admirably in his two-year stint as a Glasgow Rangers player after joining from Leicester City. 

"I’ve seen other people like Calvin Bassey [the former Rangers defender now at Ajax] and Harry Clarke [his fellow Arsenal defender who has had loan stints at Ross County and Hibernian] come to Scotland and do well, and I’ve seen what it’s done for them, " Alebiosu told The Times.

"I believe if I take the same path and do well, I can go on the same journey if not better."

Alebiosu, who got his first taste of senior football in the second half of last season during a loan spell at Crewe Alexandra, has started nine of the thirteen matches played by Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : arsenal.com 

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