Nottingham Forest and football fans worldwide are breathing a sigh of relief as Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi’s recovery begins following a serious abdominal injury.
Club doctors have confirmed that the 27-year-old Nigerian forward has woken from an induced coma after undergoing urgent surgery to repair a ruptured intestine sustained during a Premier League match against Leicester City on Sunday, May 11, 2025.
The news confirmed by medical professionals marks the beginning of Awoniyi’s recovery, with doctors optimistic about his full recovery.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the incident occurred late in Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City when Awoniyi collided with a goalpost while attempting to score.
Despite receiving lengthy on-field treatment and signalling he could continue, the severity of his condition became apparent post-match.
Awoniyi was rushed to the hospital on Monday, May 12, 2025, after further medical evaluations revealed the life-threatening nature of his injury.
Emergency surgery was performed on Monday night, followed by a second procedure on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
It was gathered that to aid Awoniyi’s recovery and stabilize his condition, medical staff placed the striker in an induced coma to restrict movement and regulate his heart rate.
On Wednesday evening, Awoniyi was successfully woken from the coma, a development that relieved fans, teammates, and the football community.
Nottingham Forest has also confirmed that the striker is “recovering well” and is now with his family, though he remains in hospital for close monitoring.
Awoniyi’s recovery begins at a critical time for Nottingham Forest, who are chasing Champions League qualification.
The striker, who joined the club from Union Berlin in 2022 for a record £17.2 million, has been a key figure, scoring 17 goals in 72 league appearances.
