Taiwo Awoniyi In Induced Coma After Emergency Surgery On Abdominal Injury

Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is currently in an induced coma and receiving intensive care after undergoing emergency surgery for an abdominal injury.

The 27-year-old sustained the injury during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City after crashing into the goalpost.

Although Taiwo Awoniyi continued playing for a short while after receiving treatment, he was eventually taken off the pitch.

On Tuesday, May 13, Nottingham Forest confirmed that Awoniyi had been rushed to the hospital on Monday, where doctors discovered the full extent of the injury and immediately carried out surgery.

Reports suggest the procedure went well, though the situation was initially considered life-threatening due to the nature of the injury.

Awoniyi is now said to be recovering, but the incident has sparked internal criticism within the club, particularly over how it was handled on the pitch.

At the time of the incident, Forest had already used up all their available substitutions, so Awoniyi attempted to continue despite clearly struggling.

His limited mobility left the team a man down during the final minutes of the match, potentially affecting their push for a Champions League spot.

Following the game, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen entering the pitch to confront head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, seemingly upset about how the injury was managed.

The club later released a statement addressing the situation and defending the owner’s actions.

The statement described Awoniyi’s injury as a stark reminder of the dangers players face and stressed that player welfare must always come first.

It explained that Marinakis’s response came from a place of deep personal concern and a strong sense of responsibility toward the team.

The club also clarified that there was no confrontation between Marinakis and the coaching staff, only shared frustration over the medical team’s decision to let Awoniyi continue playing.

They urged former players, coaches, and online commentators to avoid spreading misinformation or drawing conclusions without full context. Instead, they called for empathy and a focus on the player’s recovery.

The statement reads: ‘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.’

KanyiDaily also reported how an 18-year-old Chinese footballer, Guo Jiaxuan died after suffering a severe head injury during a training session in Spain.