SUPER Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has made a remarkable return to full training following a life-threatening abdominal injury that ruled him out of action for nearly two months.
The 27-year-old forward suffered a ruptured intestine in May 2025, a condition that required an immediate two-stage surgical procedure and saw him placed in a medically induced coma during the initial phase of his recovery to stabilise his condition and prevent complications.
According to sources close to the player, the first phase of the surgery involved emergency intervention to repair the ruptured area. The seriousness of the situation led doctors to induce a coma to control inflammation and facilitate close post-operative monitoring.
Three days later, the second phase of the operation was successfully carried out to close the wound and begin the healing process.
Doctors described the injury as “severe and potentially career-threatening,” but Awoniyi showed resilience throughout the recovery period.
Now, more than eight weeks after his health scare, Awoniyi has rejoined his teammates at Nottingham Forest in full training, signaling a major step toward full match fitness ahead of the 2025/2026 Premier League season.
The news of his return was shared via a post by a source in Super Eagles camp on Tuesday through official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The post read: “Taiwo Awoniyi returns to full training after that serious abdominal injury in May. Great to see him back on the grass.”
His return has been met with excitement by fans of both Nottingham Forest and the Super Eagles of Nigeria, as the striker is widely regarded as a key part of both squads.
Known for his physical presence, aerial ability, and tireless work rate, Awoniyi had become a central figure for Forest before the injury setback.
In the 2024/2025 season, he netted 11 goals across all competitions, helping Forest secure vital points in their battle to stay in the top flight.
For Nigeria, his return is also timely as preparations begin for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
Awoniyi, who came through the ranks of Nigeria’s U-17 and U-20 national teams and was part of the historic 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning squad, has enjoyed a steady rise in European football, having played in Germany, Belgium, and now England.