Taiwo Awoniyi will miss next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire through injury.
Nottingham Forest Head Coach Steve Cooper confirmed that Awoniyi will spend months on the sidelines due to an aggravation of a groin injury he picked up in October.
Awoniyi played an hour for Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their 1-1 draw with Lesotho before withdrawing from international duty last week.
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The striker, who has scored four goals in 11 appearances for Forest this season, will now spend an extended spell on the sidelines.
Speaking in Thursday’s morning’s press conference ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion, Cooper said on Forest’s website: “It’s bad news on Taiwo, he’s had to have surgery and he is going to be out for months.
“We’ll support him and try to get him back as quick and as fit as he can be, but it’s a really unfortunate situation and a blow for him.
“He’s become an important player for us with the goals he’s scored and the goals he will score for us, but he’s such a good guy and a good professional who is desperate to do well, so to get an injury like this is harsh on him.
“We’ve got to support him through the process of coming back stronger. He’s done that once before here and I’m sure he will give everything again like he did last time.
“You think about how well he did when he returned last season, I’m sure that’s given him a good reference point to come back to.
“We’ll definitely see him again this season, but it’s groin surgery so it will take a little while.”
The 2023 AFCON will begin 13 January to 11 February 2024.
Thr Super Eagles will take on hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in Group A.
Awoniyi was part of the Eagles squad at the 2021 tournament held in Cameroon.
10 Comments
If he’s still recovering from injury, why was he invited to SE camp? Even more puzzling why was he selected to start a world cup qualifier?
As much as we criticize players when they underperform, we should not forget the sacrifices they make.
He’s going to be out for a long time. I wish the young man a speedy recovery.
Our players need get personal nutritionist to look after what they consume, our africa in general and Nigeria in particular dishes is not got for athletes who want to be on his A game for long, we consume too many carb and starchy food.
Get well soon player!
Good news to the supporters of Onuachu,Akpom and Okereke.
I wish you a speedy recovery Awoniyi. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
So what is NFF Onigbese doing to support the injured player?
Their own is to use, misuse and even abuse. When the player gets injured, they disappear like smoke.
Dem no go even pay match bonus. If not for his club now, Awoniyi would have become a bona-fide resident of OYO state. Completely on his own.
If they paid match bonus, that would have helped financially. But they won’t pay.
When he fully recovers, they will invite him again. Always ready to reap where they did not sow!
How will our players play with commitment, when the NFF will not take care of them if they get injured?
To be a Naija player is not easy.
TO BE REALITY, IS HE GOING TO BE MISSED????
TO BE HONEST, IS HE GOING TO BE MISSED????????
TO BE HONEST, IS HE GOING TO BE MISSED BY FANS ?????
bring in isaac success to replace him, he has been in the team before and can offer a lot to the team. Awoniyi won’t be missed if we have osimhen, boniface, moffi, success and also a good midfield at the Nations cup. also, the defensive pairing of calvin basse and ajayi should stop. pair ajayi with someone else. move Calvin bassey to d left full back position and let him compete with sanusi for a starting shirt. then bench or replace Uzoho
@sportsfan. l agreed with bro. Uzoho is not good at all. With Uzoho, Nigeria has no goalkeeper.