AFCON 2025
Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi has publicly addressed fans for the first time since his harrowing injury during a Premier League match against Leicester City.
The 27-year-old Nigerian forward suffered a severe abdominal injury after colliding with the goalpost, which led to urgent surgery and a medically induced coma to stabilize his condition.
Awoniyi gave an update on his health status in a statement released on Instagram today.
“This season has been one of the most difficult of my career but through it all, I have felt the love.
“With the grace of God, I am grateful to still be here, to still be fighting, to still be smiling, and to be in good spirits.
“To my teammates, coaches, staff and the entire Forest family, thank you for your well wishes, seeing you all on your visit to the hospital lifted my spirits more than words can say.
“Wishing the boys the very best in these last two games, keep believing and keep pushing. I’m with you all the way and I can’t wait to be back out there with the boys doing what I love.
“To my family, friends and football fans, thank you for the support, and to everyone back home in Nigeria who has checked in on me, prayed for me and left kind words, thank you.
“I see them. I feel them. And I carry them with me every day as I recover.”
The football community responded with an outpouring of support. Fellow Nigerian internationals Ademola Lookman and Wilfred Ndidi were among those who sent messages of encouragement.
During Forest’s recent 2-1 victory over West Ham United, teammate Morgan Gibbs-White paid tribute by holding up Awoniyi’s shirt after scoring, symbolizing the team’s solidarity with their recovering striker.
