Striker Awoniyi regains consciousness after spending time in a coma
In a heartening turn of events, former Bundesliga player Taiwo Awoniyi has reportedly come out of his artificial coma, as shared by the British BBC on Wednesday evening. Awoniyi had been placed in an artificial coma after an emergency operation for an abdominal injury sustained during a tragic collision with a goalpost.
According to recent reports, Awoniyi (27), owned by Nottingham Forest from 1. FC Union Berlin for around 20 million euros in 2022, suffered a perforated bowel[1][3]. The Nigerian national footballer was put under the knife on Monday evening, and the coma was induced to limit his movements and control his heart rate[2].
Delightful news came in on Wednesday when his wound was closed in a subsequent operation, and he was gradually brought out of the coma in the evening. Medical experts confirmed no life-threatening condition[2].
Heated Controversy over Allowing Play Continuance
The incident occurred during the final stages of Nottingham Forest's home game against Leicester City (2:2) last Sunday. Despite apparent severe pain, Awoniyi was allowed to continue playing after a medical assessment on the pitch. As it turns out, this decision may have further complicated his condition[2].
Nottingham Forest announced on Tuesday that Awoniyi was recovering well from the operation, but the club expressed dismay about the medical team allowing him to carry on playing[2]. An investigation into the matter is underway[2].
Immediately after the game, a heated argument between club owner Evangelos Marinakis and Forest coach Nuno Espirito Santo ensued. The row stemmed from Marinakis storming onto the pitch to express his concern for Awoniyi following the incident[2]. However, the club clarified that Marinakis' emotional reaction was solely out of worry for the player[2].
Sources:
- ntv.de
- ara/dpa
- SportsKeeda
- Goal.com
- NottinghamPostLive
Following the heated controversy surrounding the continuation of play in Nottingham Forest's home game against Leicester City, it was revealed that medical experts may have inadvertently complicated the condition of former player Taiwo Awoniyi, who was allowed to continue playing despite suffering an apparent severe injury[2]. In light of Awoniyi's recovery from the life-threatening abdominal injury sustained during the game, many are now advocating for improved vocational training for sports medical teams to ensure the safety of players in European-leagues, such as the Premier League[2].
