Nigeria’s Taiwo Awoniyi bows to injury, risks missing AFCON  

Nottingham Forest FC and the Super Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi will be out of action for “months” with a groin injury which may coast him the chance of playing for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) next year.

Head Coach Steve Cooper described his injury as bad news for the club.

He vowed to give all the needed support to get him back to fitness for the club, adding that it’s a really unfortunate situation and a blow for him.”

“It’s bad news on Taiwo, he’s had to have surgery and he is going to be out for months,” Nottingham Forest Head Coach Steve Cooper said Thursday.

“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.”

Awoniyi sustained the injury in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Lesotho in a Group C qualification game for the 2026 World Cup.

He was a key member of the Nottingham Forest sides that escaped relegation last season as he scored 10 times in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

“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,” Cooper added.

“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.”