A groin injury has sidelined Super Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi for an extended period, jeopardizing his participation in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for early next year.
“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.”
The striker picked up the injury in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Lesotho in a Group C qualification game for the 2026 World Cup.
Awoniyi, 26, has played a pivotal role for Forest this season, registering four Premier League goals in 10 matches.
In the previous season, he scored 10 times in the domestic campaign, contributing significantly as Cooper’s team fought to avoid relegation.
“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.”
The striker’s injury raises concerns for the Super Eagles ahead of the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, where he featured in Nigeria’s game against Lesotho but had to return to England due to the injury.
