NIGERIAN footballer Taiwo Awoniyi has regained consciousness after an induced coma he underwent on Wednesday, May 14, following a successful operation to treat a severe abdominal injury.
The Nottingham Forest striker, 27, was hospitalised on Monday, May 12, after colliding with a goalpost while attempting to connect with a cross from teammate Anthony Elanga during the closing moments of Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Leicester City.
The collision, which occurred as Elanga was flagged offside, left Awoniyi with a ruptured intestine, according to Daily Mail.
He was immediately taken to the hospital, where he underwent the first stage of surgery on Monday.
After spending Tuesday in an induced coma to stabilise his condition, Awoniyi had the second part of the operation on Wednesday, which involved closing the wound.
Medical staff woke him from the coma in the early evening, and the Nigerian star is currently with his family members.
The ICIR reported that a statement on Tuesday, by Nottingham Forest, confirmed that Awoniyi had undergone urgent surgery after the severity of the injury was established on Monday, May 12.
“The Club can confirm Taiwo Awoniyi has undergone urgent surgery following an abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City.
“Everyone at Nottingham Forest sends their best wishes to Taiwo. The club will provide further updates when appropriate,” it wrote.
The club, in a separate statement on Tuesday, further stressed that Awoniyi was recovering well from the surgery.
The ICIR reports that Nottingham Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, was seen on the pitch in what appeared to have been confronting manager Nuno Espírito Santo after the 2-2 draw.
The incident stirred controversy among many football lovers and pundits, including Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, who described the situation as ‘scandalous.’
However, Nottingham Forest, in a statement confirming Awoniyi’s recovery, said the owner went to the pitch regarding how the player’s injury was managed.
Aina blames Awoniyi’s incident on late offside call
Reacting to the incident in an interview with Mail, Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina blamed Awoniyi’s injury on a late offside call, stating that it’s ‘horrible’ seeing him go through such an incident.
“It’s horrible seeing someone you are close with go through something like this, but I pray to God everything goes to plan and goes well and that we will be hearing from him soon. I have sent him messages. We all have,” Aina, who also plays alongside Awoniyi, was quoted to have said.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M