FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono is reportedly considering walking away from professional football following the tragic on-field collision that led to the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel.
The 25-year-old Equatorial Guinea international has been struggling to come to terms with the incident, which occurred during a Spanish second-division encounter between FC Andorra and Tenerife on Monday, November 2.
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, as reported by the Daily Mirror, Owono has been so emotionally affected by the tragedy that he has contemplated ending his football career.
The goalkeeper is reportedly finding it difficult to cope with the circumstances surrounding De Miguel’s death, particularly the knowledge that the 30-year-old striker left behind a wife and an 18-month-old child.
Ana Maye, general coordinator of Equatorial Guinea’s national team and a close associate of Owono since his teenage years, revealed the extent of the goalkeeper’s emotional struggles.
She explained that despite efforts by people around him to offer reassurance, Owono remains deeply distressed by the loss and is struggling to process what happened.
The incident occurred during the closing stages of the encounter when Owono rushed out of his goal to challenge De Miguel for the ball. The two players collided heavily, leaving the Tenerife forward seriously injured.
Medical personnel immediately attended to the striker, who suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest. He was subsequently taken to hospital, where he died on Tuesday morning.
The tragic development sent shockwaves through Spanish football, with clubs, players and supporters expressing condolences to De Miguel’s family and Tenerife.
Owono was visibly devastated following the incident and later released an emotional statement through FC Andorra, describing the experience as the most difficult days of his life.
The goalkeeper expressed his inability to find the right words to describe his feelings, adding that his thoughts remained with De Miguel, his family and everyone affected by the tragedy.
FC Andorra have since provided psychological assistance to help him cope with the emotional consequences of the incident.
According to reports, the club is also using experiences of other athletes who have endured similar traumatic situations to help Owono understand what happened and gradually regain his emotional stability.
Meanwhile, the tragedy has reportedly affected members of the goalkeeper’s family, with Maye revealing that his younger brother has also faced insults and harassment because of the incident.
She appealed for people to show compassion and respect for Owono and his family, stressing that nobody enters a football match expecting such a devastating outcome.
The goalkeeper has also received support from his teammates and the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation, which acknowledged the profound grief he is experiencing.
Owono has subsequently been left out of Equatorial Guinea’s squad for the November 2026 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Zimbabwe.
Despite the emotional challenges, the goalkeeper has not officially announced his retirement from professional football. His reported consideration of stepping away remains a reflection of the psychological impact of the tragedy rather than a confirmed career decision.
Spanish authorities have also opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding De Miguel’s death, as the football community continues to mourn the Tenerife forward.
For now, Owono’s immediate priority is receiving the necessary psychological support and finding a way to process an incident that has profoundly affected the lives of both players’ families.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the human consequences of football incidents and the importance of protecting the mental well-being of athletes facing traumatic experiences.
