Nigeria 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup-winning coach Manu Garba sent a strong message to his former player Taiwo Awoniyi over plans to leave Nottingham Forest at the end of the season.
With Nottingham Forest all but guaranteed European football next season, Manu Garba has advised Awoniyi to stick with the Reds, who will require a bigger squad for European competition.
Garba acknowledged the challenges players face when coming back from injury, particularly when their rival for a starting spot is in strong form.
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“He’s had a couple of injuries. Normally, when you’re coming back from injury and another player is performing well, it can be difficult to break back into the team,” Manu Garba said.
Garba also shared his thoughts on Awoniyi’s next steps, advising the 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup winner to avoid frequent club changes.
Nigeria 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup-winning coach Manu Garba
Nottingham Forest became Awoniyi’s eighth club since turning professional, following stints with Liverpool, FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Royal Excel Mouscron, KAA Gent, Mainz 05 and Union Berlin.
“For me, changing clubs too often isn’t ideal. It’s better for him to stay at Nottingham Forest.
“They have a good chance of playing in the Champions League or Europa League next season, so my advice is to stick with Forest — unless the club decides otherwise,” Garba said.
Awoniyi, who will enter the last two years of his contract with Nottingham Forest on July 1, has scored 19 goals in 81 all-competition appearances for the club.
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Since the beginning of the 2024-2025 season, Nigerian Awoniyi has struggled for minutes at Nottingham Forest, fueling speculation about his future amid Chris Wood’s impressive performances.
The two-time European champions are reportedly in the hunt for a striker ahead of the reopening of the transfer window, and Bournemouth’s Evanilson has been identified as a player of interest.
