“THE HARDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE”: GOALKEEPER JESÚS OWONO SPEAKS OUT AFTER FATAL COLLISION THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF FOOTBALLER JESÚS DE MIGUEL, 30
A tragic football collision has left Spanish football in mourning and two families facing unimaginable pain. Now, 25-year-old goalkeeper Jesús Owono has broken his silence, describing the aftermath as the most difficult days of his life.
The football world has been left heartbroken following the dєatᩚh of CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died after a devastating collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a Spanish second-division match.
The incident happened on November 2, 2026, during a match between Tenerife and Andorra at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The game was in stoppage time, with the score tied at 2–2, when Owono rushed out of his goal to challenge for a long ball. The goalkeeper collided with De Miguel, who was chasing the ball, in an impact that left the 30-year-old striker seriously injured.
De Miguel collapsed on the pitch and suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest. Medical personnel rushed to assist him, and he was eventually transported to hospital.
Although his pulse was reportedly restored during emergency treatment, his condition remained ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal. He was admitted to intensive care but never recovered.
On the morning of November 3, CD Tenerife confirmed that De Miguel had died at approximately 8 a.m. He was just 30 years old.
A FOOTBALL MATCH THAT ENDED IN tᩚraɢedy
What should have been another competitive evening of football quickly became an unimaginable tᩚraɢedy.
Following the collision, Owono was shown a straight red card. The match was subsequently abandoned as players and staff struggled to process what had happened.
The goalkeeper, who represents Equatorial Guinea internationally, was visibly distressed after the incident.
According to reports, Owono returned to the scene after initially walking away, as medical personnel and players rushed to help De Miguel.
The tᩚraɢedy has had a profound impact on both clubs, their supporters and the wider football community.
De Miguel was not only a professional footballer but also a husband and father. His wife and young daughter, who was around 18 months old, were at the stadium when the incident occurred.
His dєatᩚh has left his family, teammates and supporters devastated.
“THESE ARE THE HARDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE”
After remaining silent in the immediate aftermath, Owono finally released a deeply emotional statement on November 4 through FC Andorra.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper admitted that he was struggling to process the tᩚraɢedy and find the words to describe his feelings.
“These are the hardest days of my life,” he said.
“I struggle to find the words, and I find it very hard to process what has happened. I feel a huge pain over the loss of Jesús. I am thinking about him, his family and all the people who loved him.”
Owono also acknowledged that there would be questions to answer regarding the incident.
“I know there will be many questions to address, and I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect.”
However, he made clear that his thoughts were entirely with the player who had lost his life and the people left behind.
“Right now, honestly, I cannot think about anything other than Jesús and the pain we are experiencing. Rest in peace, Jesús.”
His words offered a glimpse into the emotional burden he has been carrying since the collision.
ONLINE 𝘢bu𝘴e FORCES GOALKEEPER TO STEP AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
As news of De Miguel’s dєatᩚh spread, Owono also became the target of intense online criticism.
His Instagram account was deactivated after he reportedly received a wave of abusive comments, including messages accusing him of being responsible for the striker’s dєatᩚh.
The situation prompted several football figures and teammates to speak out in his defence.
Andorra teammate Lautaro Spatz described Owono as someone who would never intentionally hurt another person.
The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation also expressed its support, saying the goalkeeper was experiencing profound sorrow and grief.
The incident has raised important questions about the emotional impact of sporting tragedies and the dangers of directing online hatred at athletes before all the facts have been established.
LEFT OUT OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA’S UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
Owono was subsequently left out of Equatorial Guinea’s squad for the November Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Zimbabwe.
The matches were scheduled for November 12 in Bata and November 16 in Harare.
The federation expressed support for the goalkeeper, but his absence should not be interpreted as a confirmed disciplinary punishment.
For a player who has represented his country at major international tournaments and served as its first-choice goalkeeper, the situation marks an exceptionally difficult period in his career.
POLICE INVESTIGATION AND QUESTIONS STILL TO BE ANSWERED
Spanish authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding De Miguel’s dєatᩚh.
The investigation is being conducted under judicial supervision, as Spanish law requires proceedings when a dєatᩚh occurs from non-natural causes, including accidents.
Investigators are examining the collision, the referee’s report and the medical attention De Miguel received immediately after collapsing.
A preliminary autopsy reportedly attributed his dєatᩚh to accidental chest trauma. Further medical and toxicology findings remain important to establishing the full circumstances.
Owono has not been convicted of any criminal offence, and prosecutors have indicated that criminal proceedings over an incident occurring during normal sporting play would be difficult to pursue under Spanish legal precedent.
The investigation must establish the relevant facts before any conclusions can be drawn.
TWO FAMILIES, TWO DIFFERENT FORMS OF HEARTBREAK
For De Miguel’s family, the loss is permanent. A wife has lost her husband, a young daughter has lost her father, and teammates have lost someone with whom they shared their professional lives.
For Owono, the collision has become an event he will have to live with for the rest of his life.
Football is a sport built around competition, physical challenges and split-second decisions. But no match is supposed to end with a family losing a loved one.
As tributes continue to pour in from clubs, players and supporters across Europe, the focus remains on remembering Jesús de Miguel and supporting everyone affected by the tᩚraɢedy.
One life has been lost. Another young man is struggling with the emotional aftermath. And two families are now living with a pain that football can never erase.
May Jesús de Miguel rest in peace, and may his family find strength in the days ahead. May Jesús Owono also receive the compassion and support needed to navigate this devastating experience.
