Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an induced coma following urgent abdominal surgery after a distressing incident during the 2-2 Premier League draw against Leicester City on Sunday, according to multiple reports.
The Nigeria international suffered the injury shortly after colliding with the goal frame, having come on as a second-half substitute.
What followed was a chaotic and emotionally charged scene that saw the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis storm onto the pitch in frustration — triggering speculation about internal turmoil as Forest chases an improbable Champions League qualification.
Surgery and Induced Coma: What We Know
Taiwo Awoniyi underwent surgery on Monday, with the club confirming he was “recovering well.” However, reports later emerged that the 27-year-old was placed in a medically induced coma to stabilize his condition by minimizing physical movement and regulating his heart rate.
The second phase of his surgery is scheduled for Wednesday.
Nottingham Forest have not yet officially confirmed the coma, but the revelation has sparked concern for the striker’s long-term health just as the season reaches its climax.
Forest’s Statement: “One of Our Own”
In the wake of the incident, Nottingham Forest released a strongly worded statement defending the actions of their owner, calling Marinakis’ pitch entry an act of “deep care” rather than confrontation.
“In moments like that, he demonstrates his leadership, not just through words, but through action and presence,” the statement read.
“In the final 10 minutes of the game, when he saw our player clearly in discomfort, struggling through visible pain, it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines.”
“His deep frustration at seeing our player lying on the ground in severe pain — something no one with genuine care could ignore — triggered him to go onto the pitch.”
“It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him.”
The club also hit back at reports of a post-match altercation between Marinakis and head coach Nuno Espírito Santo, dismissing them as “fake news.”
Manager-Owner Miscommunication and Game Impact
After receiving initial treatment, Awoniyi signaled that he was fit to continue. Espírito Santo, trusting that assessment, opted to make his final substitution — bringing on Jota Silva for Elliot Anderson — just as stoppage time began.
However, Awoniyi was visibly in pain and barely mobile, leaving Forest to effectively play the final minutes with 10 men, which many believe cost them the win.
UCL Dream at Stake
Nottingham Forest, currently seventh in the Premier League, remain in the race for a top-five finish — the new qualification cutoff for the UEFA Champions League.
They trail fifth-placed Chelsea by just one point with two matches remaining: away at West Ham and at home to Chelsea.
Adding another layer to the drama, Marinakis recently relinquished his “significant control” over the club to comply with UEFA ownership rules.
As president of Olympiakos, who have already qualified for next season’s Champions League, Marinakis needed to step back to avoid breaching regulations preventing one owner from exerting decisive influence over multiple clubs in UEFA competitions.
What Next for Taiwo Awoniyi and Forest?
Awoniyi, a key figure in Forest’s campaign and a regular for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, now faces an uncertain future.
Depending on his post-operative condition and recovery timeline, the injury could potentially rule him out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June.
Fans and teammates have flooded social media with support, while Forest’s medical team continues to monitor his recovery.
With their European dream hanging in the balance and their star striker battling a serious health scare, the final two weeks of Forest’s season promise to be emotional — and potentially defining.
