Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been dealt a significant blow as he will miss the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after undergoing surgery for a persistent groin injury.

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The 26-year-old, who suffered the initial setback during the 2023/24 Premier League season, aggravated the injury while playing for Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

Awoniyi was forced to sit out the Super Eagles’ second World Cup qualification game against Zimbabwe last Sunday, opting to return to England for medical treatment.

Nottingham Forest head coach, Steve Cooper, delivered the unfortunate update on Thursday, confirming that Awoniyi will be sidelined for “months” due to the severity of the groin injury.

Cooper expressed his sympathy for the Nigerian striker, acknowledging Awoniyi’s significance to the Forest squad with his goal-scoring contributions.

He stated, “It is bad news on Taiwo, he has had to have surgery, and he is going to be out for months. We will support him and try to get him back as quickly and as fit as he can be, but it is a really unfortunate situation and a blow for him.”

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Despite the setback, Cooper emphasized the club’s commitment to supporting Awoniyi through the recovery process and praised the striker’s resilience. “We have got to support him through the process of coming back stronger. He has done that once before here, and I am sure he will give everything again like he did last time,” Cooper added.

Taiwo Awoniyi, who has become an integral part of Nottingham Forest, is expected to miss a substantial portion of the season due to groin surgery.

Cooper expressed confidence in Awoniyi’s ability to make a successful comeback, citing his previous recovery as a reference point.

While the striker’s absence is a setback for both Nottingham Forest and the Super Eagles, Nigeria has been drawn into Group A of the 2023 AFCON, where they will face host nation Ivory Coast along with Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage of the prestigious tournament.

Awoniyi’s goal-scoring prowess and contributions will be sorely missed, and fans will anxiously await his return to action later in the season.