By Oluwamayowa Fakande
Nottingham Forest head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, has heaped praise on Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi, calling him a beloved figure in the squad and describing his smile as contagious.
Awoniyi, who is currently recovering from emergency abdominal surgery after colliding with a goalpost during a Premier League clash against Leicester City, remains at the heart of team spirit despite his absence.
To honour their injured teammate, Forest players warmed up wearing shirts with his name and number, accompanied by the message “we’re all with you Taiwo.”
“Since the beginning of the preparations, T was on our minds due to the seriousness of the situation. The boys wanted to do it for T,” said Santo.
“We admire him. His smile is contagious. We miss him and we need him. The boys gave everything for him, and we are so proud.”
With Forest still in contention for a Champions League spot, Santo described the team’s final match at the City Ground as a chance to achieve “something magical,” noting that Awoniyi remains a strong emotional force driving the team forward.
