Super Eagles stars Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina feature in Nottingham Forest’s Premier League opener

Nigerian footballers Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina played crucial roles as Nottingham Forest kicked off their 2024/25 Premier League season with a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.

Match Highlights

The match at the City Ground saw an early setback for Nottingham Forest as key midfielder Danilo was forced to leave the pitch due to a severe injury from a collision and fall. The injury seemed serious, affecting Forest’s gameplay dynamics.

Despite this, Nottingham Forest found some solace when substitute Ryan Yates, who replaced Danilo, made an immediate impact. Yates forced a save from Bournemouth’s goalkeeper Neto, who fumbled the ball, allowing Chris Wood to score from close range in the 23rd minute.

Bournemouth responded ten minutes later with a disallowed goal by Dango Ouattara due to an offside in the build-up, giving Nottingham Forest a reprieve.

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Second Half Challenges

Nottingham Forest’s fortunes took another hit early in the second half when Nigerian defender Ola Aina had to be substituted due to an apparent injury. This disrupted Forest’s defensive setup and added to their woes.

Bournemouth capitalized on Forest’s misfortunes, with Antoine Semenyo equalizing in the 86th minute, securing a point for the Cherries with a low drive past the Forest goalkeeper.

Player Performances

Awoniyi, who is expected to be Nottingham Forest’s top scorer this season, started the game on the bench. He was brought on for the final 18 minutes but couldn’t make a significant impact on the game.

Despite the draw, Nottingham Forest will be looking to build on this performance and hope for better luck with injuries as the season progresses. The involvement of Nigerian stars Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina will be crucial for the team’s success in the Premier League this season.