FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono is reportedly considering leaving professional football.
FC Andorra are supporting their goalkeeper as he struggles with emotional distress following a fatal collision with Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel.
Jesus Owono is reportedly considering leaving professional football after a collision that preceded striker Jesus de Miguel’s death. The FC Andorra goalkeeper has struggled with guilt and emotional distress following the incident.
Owono, a 25-year-old Equatorial Guinea international, collided with the CD Tenerife forward during a Spanish second-division match. The incident occurred on Monday, November 2, when the goalkeeper came out to clear the ball.
Medical personnel treated De Miguel, 30, before he went to hospital with a serious injury. He died the following morning.
Jesus Owono struggles with emotional aftermath
Ana Maye, general coordinator of Equatorial Guinea’s men’s national team, described the goalkeeper’s distress after the tragedy. She has known Owono since he was 14.
Maye said thoughts of De Miguel’s widow and their 18-month-old child had particularly troubled him. She also said the incident had affected Owono’s family, with some relatives reportedly experiencing insults and hostility.
Meanwhile, the goalkeeper described his grief in a statement released through FC Andorra. He said he found it difficult to express himself or process the events.
Owono described the period as the hardest of his life and expressed deep pain over De Miguel’s death. He also said his thoughts remained with the striker, his family and everyone who loved him.
Club offers psychological support
FC Andorra have arranged professional psychological support to help their goalkeeper cope with the tragedy. The club has also reportedly shown him videos of athletes who experienced similar traumatic incidents during their careers.
Beyond the support from his club, Owono has faced abuse online following the collision. He subsequently deactivated his Instagram account after users directed hurtful messages at him.
The emotional aftermath has also forced him to miss Equatorial Guinea’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe. His reported thoughts of leaving football remain separate from any confirmed decision about his career.
For now, Owono has not announced his retirement as he continues to deal with the loss.
