“He Was Excellent”: Dyche Lauds Awoniyi After Forest’s 3–1 Victory

“He Was Excellent”: Dyche Lauds Awoniyi After Forest’s 3–1 Victory

By Admin 

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has praised Taiwo Awoniyi for his decisive contribution in the club’s 3–1 Premier League victory over Leeds United at the City Ground on Sunday, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Awoniyi, who came on as a 59th-minute substitute for Igor Jesus, made an immediate impact to help Forest secure their first home win since Dyche took charge.

Speaking after the match, Dyche commended the Nigerian forward’s attitude and performance, revealing that the player had previously struggled to find his footing at the club.

 “Tee [Taiwo Awoniyi] was excellent,” Dyche told Premier League Productions. “He seemed a little bit lost when we first got here, but he knows he has a part to play for us. I thought he was excellent today.”

Awoniyi’s resurgence marks a turnaround in what had been a difficult season. Earlier in the campaign, the 28-year-old was frequently left out of matchday squads and was omitted from Forest’s UEFA Europa League roster.

However, since Dyche’s arrival, the Nigerian international has gradually regained form and confidence, featuring in three league matches and accumulating 88 minutes of playtime.

His renewed form comes after he was left out of Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Playoff against Gabon. With continued performances like Sunday’s, Awoniyi will be hoping to earn a recall to the Super Eagles ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.