Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi is in an induced coma following the first phase of surgery on a serious abdominal injury.
The 27-year-old Nigeria international sustained the injury late in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City at the City Ground after colliding with the post while attempting to connect with a cross from Anthony Elanga in the 88th minute.
Awoniyi, who came on as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare, received extensive treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital. He underwent surgery on Monday night, with further procedures scheduled for Wednesday.
In a statement on Tuesday, Forest said Awoniyi was “recovering well” and reiterated their commitment to player welfare, calling the incident “a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game.”
Controversy has surrounded the sequence leading to the injury, as Elanga was in an offside position when he received the ball.
However, under current officiating protocols, assistant referees are instructed to delay raising the flag when a goal-scoring opportunity is in progress. Critics argue this rule increases the risk of unnecessary injuries.
Following the match, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis entered the pitch to express concern to manager Nuno Espirito Santo about how the situation was handled. Marinakis is receiving regular updates on Awoniyi’s condition.
The club continues to monitor the striker’s recovery closely.
