Soccer
Nottingham Forest: Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi. Copyright: Imago
England and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has responded to his omission from Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad after Taiwo Awoniyi tipped him to represent the Three Lions, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 26-year-old midfielder ended the 2026/2027 English Premier League season with the most goal contributions (15 goals and four assists) of any Three-Lions player in the top-flight.
However, Tuchel opted for Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham in the number 10 position over the Nottingham Forest captain, sparking wild reactions.
Get Our Sports News First – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
Soccer Taiwo Awoniyi’s World Cup prediction & Gibbs-White response
Taiwo Awoniyi was given a rare start by Vitor Pereira in Forest’s clash against Chelsea. The Portuguese coach opted to rest most of his starters as they prepared for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa, having already secured a slender 1-0 advantage in the first leg.
The Super Eagles striker broke the deadlock two minutes into the game, heading home from Dilane Bakwa’s cross. Awoniyi caused chaos for the Blues again, drawing a penalty that Igor Jesus converted on the stroke of half-time.
With 21 minutes left to play, Morgan Gibbs-White was sent on to warm his legs, and he set up Awoniyi’s second goal at Stamford Bridge. However, he collided with Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez towards the end of the game and needed multiple stitches on his face.
After that game, Awoniyi was in awe of the Englishman, revealing he couldn’t wait to see him, alongside Elliot Anderson, in action at the FIFA World Cup.
“I can’t wait to watch Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson at the World Cup; these guys are amazing players,” the former Liverpool striker said after reaching the 100-game mark with Forest.
While Anderson was given a call-up, Gibbs-White wasn’t. Still, the ex-Wolves midfielder believes that while he’s deserving, the selection is ultimately down to Tuchel’s preference.
“It is what it is. I know myself I have done more than enough to be in the squad,” the versatile midfielder told Sky Sports in quotes revealed by Nottinghamshire Live.
“I just got on the wrong side of someone’s opinion. I have been on the wrong side of people’s opinions throughout my career so I’m only going to bounce back.
“I respect him [Thomas Tuchel] for calling me and telling the news. I agreed with what he had to say. I’m glad the season is behind us now, I’m going to concentrate on the summer,” Morgan Gibbs-White concluded.
England will play pre-World Cup friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica; both matches will take place during a preparation camp in South Florida.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual CAF-Accredited sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
Read MoreAdefolahan Guerreiro