Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a broken nose after a collision with Exeter City goalkeeper Joe Whitworth, moments after scoring for Nottingham Forest to help them advance to the FA Cup fifth round.
Forest edged past 10-man Exeter 4-2 on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw at St James Park on Tuesday night.
Awoniyi, making his fourth FA Cup appearance, scored a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box in the 37th minute, giving Forest a 2-1 lead after Ramón Sosa had earlier cancelled out Josh Magennis’ opener for Exeter.
However, the lead didn’t last long as Exeter equalised just five minutes into the second half. Despite being reduced to 10 men with three minutes left, the lower-division side held on, forcing extra time and eventually penalties.
Awoniyi, a constant attacking threat throughout the match, was involved in a concerning incident in extra time when he clashed heads with Whitworth in the 103rd minute.
The collision left him on the ground requiring medical attention before being stretchered off.
Forest doctors and paramedics attended to him on the pitch, with reports confirming he was later able to walk back to the dressing room unaided.
Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo later confirmed the severity of the injury but assured fans that Awoniyi was in good spirits.
“I think he broke his nose, but he’s walking around smiling. He did an amazing job, he did really well today,” Nuno said post-match.
Despite the injury scare, Awoniyi’s goal marked his second of the 2024/25 season, having previously scored in Forest’s 3-0 Premier League win over Wolves.
Forest’s reward for their hard-fought victory is a fifth-round clash against fellow Premier League side Ipswich Town.
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