By Obaloluwa Joshua, LAGOS
Taiwo Awoniyi will not be part of Nigeria’s squad to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after undergoing surgery on Thursday.
The striker played an hour for the Super Eagles in their 1-1 draw with Lesotho before withdrawing from international duty last week, due to an aggravation of a groin injury he picked up in October.
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper confirmed that Awoniyi will spend months on the sidelines due to the injury.
“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 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,” Cooper told a press conference ahead of his side’s Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
“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. READ ALSO:
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“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 to.
“We’ll definitely see him again this season, but it’s groin surgery so it will take a little while.”
Awoniyi has scored four goals in 11 games for the Tricky Trees this season.
