Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Nottingham Forest Forward Taiwo Awoniyi Placed in Induced Coma Following Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Nottingham Forest’s push for a first-ever UEFA Champions League berth has been rocked by a freak accident to 27-year-old striker Taiwo Awoniyi. During Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City, the Nigerian international slid into the upright while chasing a cross but, after eight minutes of treatment, insisted on playing on. Subsequent scans revealed a ruptured section of his small intestine; he was rushed to Queen’s Medical Centre on Monday and underwent life-saving surgery the next morning. Forest confirmed the operation “went to plan” and explained that the induced coma is purely to curb movement and stabilise heart rhythm, a standard protocol after major abdominal procedures.

Awoniyi’s absence is a sizeable statistical blow. Although limited to 32 competitive appearances this season, he has still contributed two Premier League goals, bringing his top-flight tally for Forest to 14 since arriving in 2022. Forest sit seventh with 62 points—just a fraction behind the Champions League places—and average 1.56 goals per match when Awoniyi starts compared with 1.28 without him.

Internal-organ trauma remains exceptionally rare in elite football—large cohort studies place the incidence below 1 percent of total match injuries—but such cases carry a disproportionate risk if diagnosis is delayed. Owner Evangelos Marinakis, incensed that the striker was allowed to continue, confronted staff on the pitch after full-time; the club later clarified that “shared frustration” rather than managerial dispute fuelled the exchange.

Early indications are positive: Forest’s medical bulletin notes stable haemodynamic readings and no postoperative infection so far. Comparable case studies suggest at least a six-week convalescence before non-contact training, but the timeline will hinge on bowel healing and aerobic conditioning.

For a side whose expected-goals differential (+0.12 per game) is already the narrowest in the top eight, replacing Awoniyi’s pressing and hold-up play will be critical in the season’s closing stretch.

Stay ahead of every twist in the MENA sporting scene with Betway Arabia Sports News.

Blog / Nottingham Forest Forward Taiwo Awoniyi Placed in Induced Coma Following Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Search Results

Nottingham Forest Forward Taiwo Awoniyi Placed in Induced Coma Following Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Search

Most Read

Betway turns impossible dreams into reality

Wounded Milan Faces the Obstacle of the Rich Newcastle

Betway becomes Global Betting Partner of Arsenal

With Painful Memories of the Past, Bayern Faces Manchester United

Champions League Start