Taiwo Awoniyi’s Nottingham Forest teammates honoured the Super Eagles star on Sunday before, during and after their 2-1 English Premier League victory over West Ham at the London Stadium.
While the encounter was crucial in Forest’s bid to finish in the top five and earn a ticket to the UEFA Champions League, it was also an emotional match for them as their first since Awoniyi required emergency surgery after colliding with a post during their draw with Leicester last week.
Forest warmed up in T-shirts bearing Awoniyi’s name and number on the back, plus the message “we are all with you Taiwo on the front”.
They took the lead on 11 minutes thanks to a mistake by West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, when his attempted pass to Guido Rodriguez on the edge of the box was intercepted by Morgan Gibbs-White who fired into the empty goal.
After scoring, Gibbs-White held up a Forest shirt with Awoniyi and number nine printed on the back, giving it a kiss in tribute. The players also held it aloft at full-time and posed with it in front of the away fans.
Forest doubled their lead in the second half when Nicola Milenkovic got the final touch on Anthony Elanga’s dangerous free-kick. After a video assistant referee (VAR) check taking around six minutes, the goal was finally given.
But Jarrod Bowen capitalised on a weak headed clearance from Morato to lash home a superb volley with four minutes of normal time left to set up a tense finale as Forest stay seventh.
But they are one point behind Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa in the top five and only behind sixth-placed Manchester City on goal difference.
Forest host Chelsea on the final day, and a win plus results in their favour would secure Champions League football.
Also on Sunday, Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi assisted Leicester City’s second goal in their 2-0 home win over fellow relegated side Ipswich Town.
It was Ndidi’s fifth assist of the season, which is a personal best, the most he has ever made in a single Premier League campaign.
The other Super Eagles stars involved in Sunday afternoon action in the Premier League, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, were also on the winning side as Fulham came from 2-0 down at Brentford to win 3-2.
RESULTS
West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Leicester City 2-0 Ipswich
Brentford 2-3 Fulham
