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Taiwo Awoniyi in Induced Coma After Surgery for Abdominal Injury. Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is currently in an induced coma after undergoing surgery for a serious abdominal injury. The 27-year-old Nigerian international collided with the post during a 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Sunday. Awoniyi suffered a ruptured intestine in the collision while attempting to reach a cross from Anthony Elanga in the 88th minute. Following the incident, Awoniyi was treated on the pitch before being rushed to the hospital for immediate surgery. The surgery, conducted on Monday night, was only the first phase, with the second part set to take place on Wednesday. Forest’s official statement confirmed Awoniyi is "recovering well" after the procedure and remains under medical care. The incident occurred when Elanga received a pass while offside, but the assistant referee did not raise their flag until after Awoniyi’s collision. The protocol allowing play to continue until the passage is complete has been criticized for risking player safety, even in clear injury situations. Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, expressed concern over the injury's handling, speaking directly to manager Nuno Espirito Santo. The club emphasized that Awoniyi's injury highlights the physical risks in football and reinforced the priority of players' health and wellbeing.
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