Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been taken out of his induced coma after undergoing abdominal surgery due to a serious injury sustained during the Premier League match against Leicester City. Awoniyi collided with the goalpost while attempting to score a late winner for his side in the 2-2 draw on Sunday, suffering a ruptured intestine.
The 27-year-old Nigerian international was forced to play on despite receiving lengthy treatment on the field, and his condition worsened after the match, prompting urgent surgery on Monday night. Nottingham Forest confirmed Awoniyi was “recovering well” after the procedure.
“We are relieved to see Taiwo on the road to recovery,” said a club spokesperson. Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had expressed deep frustration over the medical team’s decision to allow Awoniyi to continue playing despite his visible discomfort.
The incident has sparked debate around player welfare, with Marinakis emphasizing the club’s commitment to prioritizing players’ mental and physical well-being. “To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club — it’s family,” the club stated, highlighting his emotional investment in the team’s players.
The club also addressed criticism surrounding Marinakis’ reaction to the incident, stating there was “shared frustration” among the team that Awoniyi was allowed to play on. “There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue,” the statement read.