Taiwo Awoniyi: Nottingham Forest star’s AFCON chances suffers dent after Steve Cooper’s injury update

Awoniyi is one of the strikers who is expected to light up Ivory Coast next year, but he may miss the competition

Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi is set to be sidelined for months following a groin injury he sustained during the international break with Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reports.

Awoniyi has been struggling with injuries since he arrived at Nottingham Forest in 2022. The Nigeria international arrived at the club with a big reputation following his exploits at Union Berlin.

Unfortunately, things have not panned out the way he would have hoped. Last season, the 26-year-old missed almost three months because of a groin injury. But the situation has not improved.

Awoniyi has been battling with the injury since the start of the season. Prior to the international break, Forest boss Cooper was also unsure of Awoniyi’s fitness level.

Nonetheless, coach Peseiro invited him for the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Awoniyi was taken off on the hour mark in Nigeria’s first game against Lesotho, and before the second leg, it was confirmed that he had returned to Nottingham Forest following an injury.

The Tricky Trees play Brighton this weekend, and ahead of the game, Cooper has revealed that Awoniyi will have to undergo surgery on his groin, which will rule him out for months.

“It’s bad news on Taiwo[Awoniyi], he’s had to have surgery, and he is going to be out for months,” Cooper said, per Nottingham Forest’s official site.

“We’ll support him and try to get him back as quick and as fit as he can be, but it’s a really unfortunate situation and a blow for him.”

With this development, it will be a miracle if Awoniyi plays at the Africa Cup of Nations, which is set to hold in January 2024. It is also a significant blow for Nottingham Forest, as Chris Wood and Divock Origi are the other strikers on the team. But they are not on Awoniy’s level.