Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi endured a scary collision against Exeter City’s keeper Joe Whitworth during the FA Cup fourth round tie in Devon.
Immediately after the clash, the medical team carried him off on a stretcher. Moreover, fans applauded him as he left the pitch, hoping for his swift recovery.
In addition, initial fears suggested that the Nigerian international might have sustained a serious neck injury. Fortunately, those concerns did not materialize. Instead, Awoniyi suffered a concussion and a broken nose—a setback that still left him in obvious pain.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed the injury details after the match. He explained, “It was a concussion and a broken nose. He was in a lot of pain.” However, he added that Awoniyi’s smile shone through because the striker had scored for the team and performed remarkably well.
Awoniyi had received a rare starting opportunity in a much-changed Forest side. Initially, League One side Exeter City took the lead through Josh Magennis. Then Ramon Sosa equalised, and shortly after, Awoniyi’s goal gave Forest a half-time advantage.
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However, Forest could not extend their lead further. A Willy Boly own goal eventually levelled the score, and later Ed Turns was sent off. Consequently, the hosts had to battle extra time with 10 men before forcing a penalty shoot-out. Moreover, senior players Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White came off the bench and contributed to a 4–2 victory in the shootout.
Forest will now face Ipswich Town in the round of 16, marking one of several all-Premier League ties in the competition. In addition, Kieran McKenna’s side reached this stage by beating Championship outfit Coventry City 4–1 on Saturday, with Jack Clarke bagging a brace.
Furthermore, Forest keeper Matz Sels, who replaced the injured Carlos Miguel, praised the team’s performance. He said, “We knew before the game it would be difficult. We came back strongly and finished well.” His crucial save during the shootout helped secure the win and kept the team’s cup run alive.
Fans are invited to share their messages for Taiwo Awoniyi in the comments section as they wish him a speedy recovery. In addition, supporters can join the new WhatsApp community for their daily dose of Mirror Football content. Moreover, Sky has launched a new deal on its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL, and more.
