By Taiwo Awoniyi Narrowly Escapes Death After Concussion in FA Cup Clash
Super Eagles striker and Nottingham Forest forward, Taiwo Awoniyi, had a narrow escape on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, when he collapsed on the field during his team’s FA Cup match against Exeter City.
Awoniyi was involved in a heavy clash of heads with Exeter goalkeeper, Joe Whitworth, leading to a concussion.
The incident occurred during Forest’s Fourth Round Emirates FA Cup clash, causing a temporal halt to the match.
Medical staff spent approximately ten minutes battling to revive the striker on the field, sparking concern among players, officials, and spectators alike.
The delay led to the match being paused for more than ten minutes as doctors worked to revive Awoniyi.
Fortunately, the striker was successfully revived and was later wheeled off the pitch on a stretcher.
Nottingham Forest’s head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, confirmed after the match that Awoniyi sustained a broken nose in addition to the concussion resulting from the aerial collision with Whitworth.
Despite the scare, the 25-year-old forward recovered quickly and was seen on his feet after receiving medical attention.
Awoniyi’s efforts on the pitch had earlier seen him score Forest’s second goal in the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time, ultimately going to penalties.
Nottingham Forest emerged victorious in the penalty shootout, securing their spot in the next round of the prestigious competition.
