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Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi was taken to the hospital for urgent surgery on an abdominal injury, as reported on Monday. The Nigerian player sustained the injury after colliding with a goalpost during Forest’s 2-2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground on Sunday.
Awoniyi had attempted to score from an Anthony Elanga cross but was injured in the process. After receiving several minutes of treatment, he continued to play for a while. Forest’s medical team only identified the full extent of the injury on Monday, leading to his immediate surgery, which was reported to be non-life-threatening.
“The club can confirm Taiwo Awoniyi has undergone urgent surgery following an abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City,” said a Forest statement.
Awoniyi, who transferred to Forest from Union Berlin in June 2022, had just entered the game for five minutes as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare. Despite receiving extended treatment on the field, he attempted to continue playing, but his injury was fully assessed only after the medical staff examined him on Monday.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis stated that the way Awoniyi’s injury was managed during the match was why he went onto the pitch after the final whistle to confront head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
“Everybody — coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself — we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgement on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game,” said Marinakis in an Instagram post issued later Sunday.
While Forest was pushing for a late goal that could have strengthened their chances of qualifying for the Champions League, Awoniyi returned to the game but was limited in his movement, which led to Marinakis expressing his frustration over the lack of a substitution.
The draw against Leicester, a team already relegated from the Premier League, has put Forest’s Champions League qualification hopes out of their control, although it has ensured a top-seven finish, guaranteeing European football next season.
If the two-time European champions Forest win their last two league matches, including a decisive final game against Chelsea, they may still struggle to qualify for the Champions League unless at least one of Aston Villa, Manchester City, or Newcastle drops points in their remaining games.
