Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi was taken to the hospital on Monday for an urgent abdominal operation following an incident during his side’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Leicester City at the City Ground.
The Nigerian forward reportedly sustained the injury when he crashed into a goalpost while attempting to finish a cross from teammate Anthony Elanga. Despite the hard impact and receiving on-pitch treatment for several minutes, Awoniyi returned to the field briefly before eventually being taken off.
Forest’s medical team later assessed him more thoroughly and discovered the extent of the abdominal issue. He was quickly sent in for emergency surgery. Although the procedure was serious, sources close to the club have said the situation is not believed to be life-threatening.
The injury incident triggered a heated moment at full-time when Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis marched onto the pitch to confront manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Marinakis was visibly upset, reportedly unhappy with the decision to keep Awoniyi on the field despite his condition.
Speaking after the match, Marinakis noted his concern for the striker’s health, questioning why he remained in the game even after it was clear he was in pain. It’s understood that Nuno had discussed the matter with the medical staff during stoppage time, but chose not to substitute Awoniyi immediately.
The match ended in disappointment for Forest, who were hoping for a win to keep their Champions League hopes alive. The draw with already-relegated Leicester leaves Forest in seventh place — one point behind the top five, with only two matches remaining against West Ham and Chelsea.
Forest’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League now depend on other results. However, they are guaranteed at least a spot in the UEFA Conference League, which would mark their return to European competition for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
