Taiwo Awoniyi wakes from coma after successful abdominal surgery

Nigerian and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has woken from an induced coma following emergency surgery to treat his serious abdominal injury sustained during Forest’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Sunday.

Awoniyi collided with the goalpost late in the match and was taken to the hospital on Monday after suffering a ruptured intestine from the impact.

The 26-year-old Nigerian striker underwent a two-stage surgical procedure, with the first operation conducted on Monday. He was placed in a medically induced coma on Tuesday to monitor his progress before undergoing the second stage, which included wound closure on Wednesday.

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By Wednesday evening, Awoniyi had been successfully woken from the coma, with his condition now being monitored closely.

In response to the handling of the incident, Nottingham Forest are preparing to launch an internal review, focusing on the medical team’s decision to allow Awoniyi to continue playing after the collision.

Despite receiving prolonged treatment on the pitch, the striker indicated he could continue, only for his condition to visibly deteriorate while Forest had no substitutions remaining.

The situation prompted concern from club owner Evangelos Marinakis, who personally came onto the pitch after the match to express his displeasure to manager Nuno Espirito Santo regarding the response to Awoniyi’s injury.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the club acknowledged a “shared frustration” with the medical team, noting that “the player should never have been allowed to continue.”

Forest will now seek to understand exactly how the decision was made to let Awoniyi remain on the field, as the club prioritises the striker’s full recovery and well-being.

Anthony Nlebem

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.