By Victor Kanayo
There are indications that Nigeria’s Super Eagles player, Taiwo Awoniyi, is in critical health condition a few days after sustaining severe abdominal pain following a collision with a goalpost while featuring for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
According to his club, the Nigerian international is in an induced coma after undergoing the first phase of surgery.
He sustained the injury in the 88th minute of the 2–2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground on Sunday, as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from teammate Anthony Elanga.
The club confirmed that he had surgery on Monday night and remains in hospital, with the rest of the procedure set to be completed on Wednesday.
A Forest statement said Awoniyi was “recovering well” following the operation.
Part of the statement also reads: “Awoniyi’s injury was a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player’s health and wellbeing must always come first.”
After the incident on Sunday, he received treatment on the pitch and was able to continue but was visibly struggling when the match restarted.
Awoniyi, who joined Forest from Union Berlin in June 2022, had only been on the pitch for five minutes, having come on as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangaré in the match against Leicester.
