Taiwo Awoniyi in Induced Coma After Surgery: Forest Star’s Gut-Wrenching Injury Shakes Premier League
Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an induced coma following emergency abdominal surgery. Nottingham Forest confirms a second operation is due as the Premier League club rallies around their star.
From Post to ICU: Taiwo Awoniyi’s Shocking Injury Saga
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is fighting a very different battle this week — not on the pitch, but in hospital. After colliding with the goalpost in the final minutes of Forest’s 2-2 draw against relegated Leicester City, Awoniyi brushed it off like a champ… until he didn’t.
The 27-year-old Nigerian international was rushed to hospital post-match and underwent emergency abdominal surgery on Monday night. Doctors have since placed him in an induced coma, with another procedure scheduled for Wednesday. Football’s a contact sport, sure — but no one expected it to get this grim.
Awoniyi’s Injury Timeline
| Date | Event/Update |
|---|---|
| Sunday Matchday | Collided with post, played out 2-2 draw vs Leicester |
| Monday Night | Underwent urgent abdominal surgery |
| Tuesday | Placed in induced coma; Forest confirms recovery is “going well” |
| Wednesday (Due) | Second operation scheduled |
Club Statement: “A Powerful Reminder”
Nottingham Forest released a statement praising Awoniyi’s resilience and warning of the physical risks footballers face:
“This is a powerful reminder of why a player’s health and wellbeing must always come first.”
Forest’s rollercoaster season — from relegation scrap to a wild shot at European glory — just hit a sobering speed bump.
Forest’s Table Trouble: Europe Hopes Wobble
| Forest’s Recent Form | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Draw vs Leicester (2-2) | Missed chance to cement Euro hopes |
| 5 Clubs in the Mix | Forest in tight race for 3rd–7th |
| Upcoming Matches | West Ham (A), Chelsea (H) |
Despite clawing their way up the ladder, the Leicester draw felt like dropping the ball at the goal line. And now, with their key striker benched indefinitely, Forest’s Champions League push could be running out of steam faster than a flat pint at the City Ground.
Boardroom Drama: Owner Hits the Pitch
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis made headlines himself — storming the pitch post-match for a spicy sideline exchange with manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The reason? Miscommunication between the bench and medical staff regarding Awoniyi’s condition.
But rather than an angry rant, Forest insists Marinakis was showing “emotional investment” and “instinctive, human care.”
“His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility… he would do the same again.”
Translation: he saw his striker in agony and did what any football dad would — stormed in like a Greek god with a grudge.
The Bigger Picture: Health > Heaps of Points
Whether Forest can keep their Euro dreams alive remains to be seen. But Awoniyi’s battle reminds fans that, at the end of the day, even the toughest footballers are still human.
Let’s just hope that Taiwo’s comeback is quicker than Forest’s defence in the 89th minute.
