Wafric News – May 14, 2025

Nottingham, UK – Nigerian international and Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi has reportedly been placed in an induced coma after undergoing emergency surgery for a serious abdominal injury sustained during a Premier League match.

The 27-year-old suffered the injury during Forest’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Sunday, after a collision with the goalpost while attempting to convert a cross from teammate Anthony Elanga. Despite clear signs of discomfort, Awoniyi remained on the pitch for the final minutes of the match.

Nottingham Forest confirmed in a club statement on Tuesday that the striker had undergone surgery and was “recovering well.” However, multiple UK media outlets, including BBC and Sky Sports, reported that Awoniyi was placed in a medically induced coma as part of his treatment plan.

When approached for further comment, the club referred media outlets, including CNN, back to Tuesday’s official statement and declined to elaborate on the reported coma.

The incident occurred as Awoniyi stretched to meet Elanga’s delivery in the box—though the move was eventually ruled offside, the flag was only raised after the Nigerian forward had already collided with the post. He received on-field medical attention but signaled he was able to continue. Forest had already used all available substitutions at the time.

Forest’s statement also addressed reports of a heated exchange between club owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Nuno Espírito Santo after the match. The interaction, which was caught on camera, sparked speculation of internal discord—fueled by the decision to allow Awoniyi to continue playing despite his visible discomfort.

However, the club categorically denied claims of a confrontation, labeling the reports as “fake news.”

“There was no confrontation—on the pitch or elsewhere. There was mutual frustration among all involved that the medical staff permitted Awoniyi to play on,” the statement read.

Forest criticized what it described as “baseless and ill-informed outrage” driven by social media commentary, urging former players, coaches, and pundits to avoid spreading misinformation without full context.

Since his arrival from Union Berlin in 2022, Awoniyi has scored 17 goals in 73 Premier League appearances for the Tricky Trees and has become a key figure in their attack. His absence could be a significant blow to Forest’s hopes of European qualification as the season heads into its final stretch.

WafricNews will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on Awoniyi’s recovery.



By Wafric News Sport Desk.