Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed into an induced coma and is receiving intensive care following surgery on the serious abdominal injury that he sustained during Nottingham Forest’s game against Leicester City on Sunday.
The Nigerian international forward was taken to hospital on Monday, after the club’s medical staff highlighted the need for urgent treatment for the injury, which was sustained as Awoniyi collided painfully with a post.
Awoniyi had roughly three minutes of treatment before getting back to his feet and tried to continue playing through injury time in the 2-2 draw.
In a statement issued on social media platform X, the club said: “Nottingham Forest can confirm that Taiwo Awoniyi is recovering well so far, following urgent surgery on a serious abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match.
“The seriousness of his 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.
“At Nottingham Forest, 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 football club, it is a family.”
The incident, which saw Forest subsequently use their final substitute window, before Awoniyi attempted to continue in the 91st minute, was described as a “miscommunication” by manager Nuno Espirito Santo after the game.
The incident prompted Marinakis to make his way onto the City Ground pitch after the final whistle, where he had an animated exchange with Nuno. The club’s statement goes on to say that Marinakis’ actions were motivated by Awoniyi’s injury.
“His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility and emotional investment in one of his own,” it says. “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, struggling through visible pain, 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.”
Forest’s statement also went on to question media coverage of the incident, with Sky Sports’ Gary Neville having suggested Nuno should consider his exit from the club because of it.
“The truth of the matter is that there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others,” the statement continued. “There was only a shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.”
Awoniyi has made three starts and 23 substitute appearances for Forest this season, scoring one goal.
(Photo: Ed Sykes/Getty Images)
