Awoniyi set to miss AFCON over groin injury

Super Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi may not participate in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after he picked up a groin injury.

His club manager at Nottingham Forest, Steve Cooper, during a press conference announced that Awoniyi would be out for “months”.

Awoniyi picked up the injury during the Super Eagles’ 1-1 home draw to Lesotho last week in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. He was substituted in the 59th minute of the game and subsequently pulled out of the squad for the following match away to Zimbabwe.

Cooper said the complication picked up by the 26-year-old during the game would need surgery. Awoniyi had only recovered from a groin injury he suffered in October.

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“It’s bad news on Taiwo; he’s had to have surgery, and he is going to be out for months,” the Forest manager said.

“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.

“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 a good professional who is desperate to do well, so to get an injury like this is harsh on him.

“We’ve got to support him through the process of coming back stronger. He’s done that once before here, and I’m sure he will give everything again like he did last time.

“You think about how well he did when he returned last season; I’m sure that’s given him a good reference point to come back,” he said.

The development means Awoniyi might not recover on time for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) billed for Ivory Coast — between January 13 and February 11, 2024.