Nottingham Forest Dedicate West Ham Victory To Awoniyi
Nottingham Forest players and coaching staff dedicated their 2-1 win over West Ham on Sunday to Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who is recovering from abdominal surgery.
Awoniyi underwent an urgent surgery on Monday after colliding with the post in their 2-2 clash against Leicester City on Sunday.
On Monday, Awoniyi was taken to the hospital for the first phase of surgery, with the second stage completed on Wednesday before he was woken up from an induced coma later that evening.
Nottingham Forest players displayed Awoniyi’s name and number at the back of their warm-up kits, with a message on the front reading “We’re all with you, Taiwo”.
Captain Morgan Gibbs-White lifted up Awoniyi’s shirt to the crowd after scoring the first goal against West Ham.
He dedicated the victory to Taiwo Awoniyi while wishing him a quick recovery.
Gibbs-White said, “The whole week has been tough on everyone. Wednesday was our first day back in, and the place was pretty lifeless; everyone was praying and wishing him well.
“He’s come round on a good path; we’re all wishing him well, and that win today was for him.”
Similarly, Nottingham Forest coach Nuno Espirito-Santo also dedicated the victory to the Super Eagles forward.
He said, “Since the beginning of our preparations, ‘T’ was on our minds due to the seriousness of the situation, and the boys really wanted to do it for him.
“That was our final words, ‘Let’s give it a push.’ He is someone we admire; his smile is contagious, and the boys did it for him. We are so proud.”
Nottingham Forest boosted their chances of qualifying for the Champions League with a vital victory against West Ham.
The win takes their tally to 65 points in seventh, one point behind third-placed Newcastle United, ahead of a Champions League decider clash against Chelsea on the last day of the season.
Meanwhile, Taiwo Awoniyi released a statement on social media for the first time after coming out of an induced coma on Wednesday.
He expressed gratitude to his teammates, fans, supporters, and family for their support during his injury and surgery.
Awoniyi wrote: “This season has been one of the most difficult of my career, but through it all, I have felt the love. With the grace of God, I am grateful to still be here, to still be fighting, to still be smiling, and to be in good spirits.
“To my teammates, coaches, staff, and the entire Forest family, thank you for your well wishes. Seeing you all on your visit to the hospital lifted my spirits more than words can say.
“Wishing the boys the very best in these last two games; keep believing and keep pushing. I’m with you all the way, and I can’t wait to be back out there with the boys doing what I love.
“To my family, friends, and football fans, thank you for the support, and to everyone back home in Nigeria who has checked in on me, prayed for me, and left kind words, thank you. I see them. I feel them. And I carry them with me every day as I recover.”
Awoniyi has scored once in 26 Premier League appearances for Nottingham Forest this season.
Nottingham Forest Dedicate West Ham Victory To Awoniyi is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
