Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has reportedly been placed in an induced coma after undergoing surgery for a serious abdominal injury, according to British media outlets.
The 27-year-old Nigeria international sustained the injury during the closing moments of Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Leicester City at the City Ground. He collided with the goalpost in the 88th minute while attempting to reach a cross from Anthony Elanga.
Awoniyi, who came on as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare, had been on the pitch for only five minutes before the incident occurred. He received treatment immediately but returned to finish the match, visibly limping throughout the final ten minutes.
The BBC was among the British media organisations that reported late on Tuesday that Awoniyi had been placed in an induced coma following the first phase of surgery.
Earlier on Tuesday, Nottingham Forest issued a statement confirming that Awoniyi had undergone surgery and was recovering.
“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 against Leicester City,” the club said.
Following the match, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen entering the pitch and appeared to confront manager Nuno Espirito Santo. According to Espirito Santo, the incident stemmed from Marinakis’s frustration over Awoniyi not being substituted, which he attributed to a breakdown in communication between the coaching and medical teams.
On Tuesday, Forest dismissed reports of a confrontation as false, describing them as “fake news”.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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