Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is currently in an induced coma after undergoing the first phase of surgery to address a serious abdominal injury. The 27-year-old Nigerian international suffered the injury during a match against Leicester City, where he collided with the goalpost while trying to score from a cross delivered by teammate Anthony Elanga. This incident occurred in the 88th minute of the game, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Awoniyi had surgery late on Monday night and is still hospitalized as doctors plan to complete the remaining procedures on Wednesday. Following the surgery, Nottingham Forest released a statement indicating that Awoniyi was “recovering well.” Initially, after the collision, he was treated on the field and managed to continue playing for a short period, but it was clear that the injury was affecting him when play resumed.

The incident raised concerns among club officials, including owner Evangelos Marinakis, who expressed his worries about how Awoniyi's injury was handled during the game. Marinakis has been kept informed about the striker's condition, highlighting the club's commitment to player welfare. Nottingham Forest emphasized in their communications that Awoniyi's injury serves as a stark reminder of the physical risks inherent in professional football and reinforces the priority of player health and safety.

Awoniyi joined Nottingham Forest from Union Berlin in June 2022 and has made a significant impact since his arrival, scoring 19 goals in 83 appearances across all competitions. The club and its fans are now rallying in support of Awoniyi during this challenging time as they await further updates on his recovery.