FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has described the current period as the hardest days of his life following the death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel. The 30 year old Spanish footballer passed away on Tuesday due to injuries sustained during a collision with Owono on Monday. The incident occurred during a Spanish second division match when Owono, who represents Equatorial Guinea internationally, rushed into the midfield to clear an aerial ball.
In a statement released by his club on Wednesday, Owono admitted to struggling with the event. He stated that it is difficult for him to process what happened and that he feels immense pain over the loss of De Miguel. The goalkeeper noted that while there will be many issues to address in the coming days, he intends to face them with utmost respect. For now, he said his thoughts remain focused on De Miguel, his family, and the people who loved him, concluding with a wish for the striker to rest in peace.
Spanish police sources informed the AFP news agency that an investigation into the incident has been opened. This inquiry is currently under judicial supervision. The FC Andorra squad observed a minute of silence before a voluntary training session on Wednesday. Owono, who is 25 years old, did not attend this particular training session.
Support for the goalkeeper has also come from the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation. President Venancio Tomas Ndong Micha sent a letter of condolence to Owono. In the letter, Micha conveyed the federation's solidarity and support, acknowledging that Owono is living through the situation with deep sorrow. The federation offered both human and professional backing, recognizing the harshness of an event that no one in the sport ever wishes to witness.
Teammates have also rallied around Owono. Lautaro Spatz, a defender for Andorra, posted a message on Instagram stating that those who know Owono understand the kind of person he is. Spatz emphasized that Owono would never intentionally hurt anyone and noted that while unfortunate incidents can happen in football, no one could have imagined such tragic consequences would result from one.
The Spanish football league responded to the tragedy by confirming that the weekend matches for both Tenerife and Andorra would be postponed. Tenerife was scheduled to travel to play Granada, while Andorra was set to host Mallorca at home. Granada issued a statement confirming the postponement of their match at Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium, which was originally set for Saturday, November 7.
Mallorca also commented on the decision, stating that respect and sensitivity must come first in the face of profound grief. Beyond the league matches, the Spanish football federation postponed all Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches scheduled for the week as a mark of respect for De Miguel.
Tenerife plans to hold a tribute to the late striker at their club stadium on Saturday. The event will be open to supporters. The club has also instituted a six day mourning period. The first team, board members, and staff will attend De Miguel’s funeral, which will be held in Navahermosa in the province of Toledo on the Spanish mainland, where he has family roots.
The impact of the striker's death has extended to European competition. UEFA organized a minute of silence before Champions League matches on Tuesday in honor of De Miguel. The governing body plans to hold similar tributes during the rest of the week's fixtures to pay respect to the player.
