Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, is reportedly in an induced coma and receiving intensive care following 'urgent' surgery on a serious abdominal injury.
The 27-year-old Nigerian international crashed into a
post during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Leicester and, following several minutes of
treatment, returned to action before being taken off.
Forest confirmed on Tuesday, May 13, that the 27-year-old
underwent urgent surgery after the extent of the injury was confirmed on
Monday, and he was rushed to the hospital.
Mail Sport understands that the initial signs are that the
surgery has been a success. In what is a complex medical process, doctors were
expecting to complete the operation today.
The injury was of a nature which, in some cases, can be
fatal. Forest said that the striker is 'recovering well'.
The club accompanied that update with an attack on their own
medical staff.
Awoniyi could not be substituted because Forest had used
their last available substitute to replace Elliot Anderson with Jota Silva. The
forward tried to carry on but was unable to move properly as Forest chased a
late winner, which would have boosted their Champions
League qualification hopes.
After they were left to play the last few minutes with 10
men, it appeared Marinakis took issue with Nuno at full-time.
The club later issued a statement after the club owner,
Evangelos Marinakis, entered the field to remonstrate with coach Nuno
Espirito Santo.
It read: 'The seriousness of Taiwo Awoniyi's injury is a
powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player's health
and well-being must always come first. This principle is not just policy for
us, it is the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner. To Evangelos
Marinakis, this isn't just a club, it's family, and he instils that message in
all of us.
'That is why he was so personally and emotionally invested
in the situation. His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility, and
emotional investment in one of our own.
'He didn't just see it as an isolated incident, but
something that reflected the values and unity of the entire team.
'In moments like that he demonstrates his leadership, not just through
words, but through action and presence.
'When he saw our player clearly in discomfort it became increasingly
difficult for him to stay on the sidelines.
'It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team
and its people mean to him. He would do the same again if such an unfortunate
event were ever to reoccur.
'There was no confrontation, with Nuno or others, either on the pitch or
inside the stadium. There was only shared frustration between all of us that
the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.
'In light of this, we urge former coaches and players, and other public
figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgment and fake news
online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context.
'Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal
social-media traction serves no one, least of all the injured player. We call
on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that
they often demand from others. Let concern come before commentary.'
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