Mr Solomon Awoniyi, the father of Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who scored against Sudan, was accused of abusing his son in order to discourage him from playing football.
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At his home in Gbagba Ilorin, Awoniyi stated he had no idea Taiwo would reach the international level of football.
He said his son’s football career began in elementary school, and that he (Taiwo) would always vanish from the house to play football, leaving the rest of the family searching for him.
Taiwo had an early interest in football and resolved to pursue a career as a professional player, despite his parents’ wishes for him to pursue a career as a medical doctor. His father used to beat up the striker in order to dissuade him from playing football. He eventually joined in the Imperial Soccer Academy in Ogun state, where he graduated in 2012, after much disagreement with his parents. He also represented Nigeria at the Copa Coca-Cola in London and was a member of the Nigerian U-15 team.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s father, a former police officer, expressed his delight at his son’s ability to represent Nigeria in a Nation Cup competition.
