Awoniyi To Miss 2024 Africa Cup Of Nations After Undergoing Groin Surgery

November 23, (THEWILL) – Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has been ruled out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, after undergoing groin surgery this week, his club manager, Steve Cooper, has confirmed. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Cooper revealed that the Super Eagles star will be sidelined for a minimum of two months as he recovers.

The injury was sustained during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Lesotho last week, with Awoniyi forced off after an hour. Further medical examinations since his return to England showed the problem to be worse than first feared, necessitating the surgical procedure.

With the tournament in Ivory Coast beginning on January 13, 2023, there is no possibility of Awoniyi regaining fitness in time to be named in Nigeria’s final squad. His absence comes as a major blow both for his national side, for whom he started three matches at the 2021 AFCON, as well as Nottingham Forest.

Quoted on the club’s official website, manager Cooper told the media: “It’s bad news on Taiwo, he’s had to have surgery and he is going to be out for months. We’ll support him and try to get him back as fit as he can be, but it’s an unfortunate situation.”

“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 professional who is desperate to do well, so to get an injury like this is harsh on him,” the Forest boss added.

Cooper remained optimistic about a return before the end of the 2022/2023 season, referencing Awoniyi’s previous comeback from injury upon first joining the club last year. “We’ll definitely see him again this season, but it’s groin surgery so it will take a little while,” he said. In the meantime, Forest will have to find an alternative source of goals as they battle to finish higher up the EPL table.