Taiwo Awoniyi marked his return from injury with a solid late cameo as Nottingham Forest defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night, strengthening their grip on a top three spot in the Premier League.
The Nigerian forward, who had been sidelined since early April due to a hamstring injury, came on in the 75th minute to help Forest see out the game. While he didn’t get on the scoresheet, his presence added fresh energy to the team in the closing stages. Fellow Super Eagles star Ola Aina missed out due to a muscle issue.
Forest struck early through Elliot Anderson in the 5th minute. Chris Wood thought he had doubled the advantage soon after, only for VAR to rule it out. But the striker got his goal in the 16th minute to make it 2–0. Spurs pulled one back via Richarlison in the 87th minute, but the visitors held firm to take all three points.
The win sees Forest stay third in the standings with 60 points, keeping their Champions League hopes very much alive. Tottenham remains 16th on 37 points, but it is still mired in a tough season under pressure.
Editorial
There’s something undeniably special about a team that punches above its weight, and right now, Nottingham Forest is doing exactly that. Monday night’s victory over the Spurs wasn’t just about points. It was a statement of intent, and the return of Taiwo Awoniyi added a new layer of promise to this side’s Champions League aspirations.
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Forest has shown they’re not afraid to take on bigger teams, and with 60 points already, they’ve earned the right to be in the conversation. Awoniyi’s reappearance might have been brief, but it signals that Nuno Espírito Santo’s side is returning to full strength at the most crucial time of the season.
The bigger picture, though, lies in what this means for Nigerian football. Awoniyi is a striker of rare intelligence, positionally astute, physically dominant, and team focused. His contributions, even when not scoring, often shift the dynamic of games. With players like him in form and Europe’s spotlight, Nigeria’s football stock continues to rise.
For Spurs, this was another tough blow. And for Forest, another giant step. But with Awoniyi back, the journey to Europe’s elite just got a lot more exciting.
Did You Know?
- Taiwo Awoniyi was previously on Liverpool’s books but never made a first team appearance due to work permit issues.
- Nottingham Forest have won two UEFA Champions League titles—in 1979 and 1980 under legendary manager Brian Clough.
- Richarlison’s goal against Forest was his 6th in all competitions this season for Tottenham.
- Elliot Anderson, who scored the opener, is eligible to play for either Scotland or England at international level.
- The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, opened in 2019, is the largest club stadium in London with a capacity of 62,850.
