JESÚS OWONO FACES THE DARKEST DAYS OF HIS LIFE AFTER FATAL COLLISION THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF FOOTBALLER JESÚS DE MIGUEL

FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono is struggling to cope with the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel following a tragic on-field collision. His manager says the 25-year-old has been deeply affected and will be given all the time he needs to decide whether he wants to return to football.

A tragic football incident has left two families, two clubs and the wider Spanish football community grieving.

Jesús Owono, the goalkeeper for FC Andorra and an international player for Equatorial Guinea, is facing an extremely difficult period after a collision with CD Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel during a Spanish second-division match resulted in the striker’s death.

De Miguel, 30, died on November 3, 2026, after suffering a cardiac arrest following the incident. He had been taken to hospital in critical condition after receiving emergency treatment at the stadium.

The tragedy has also had a profound impact on Owono, who was directly involved in the collision.

In his first public statement following De Miguel’s death, Owono described the experience as the most difficult days of his life.

“These are the most difficult days of my life,” he said, explaining that he was struggling to find the words to process what had happened.

He also expressed his enormous pain at the loss of De Miguel and said his thoughts were with the footballer’s family and everyone who loved him.

THE COLLISION THAT SHOCKED SPANISH FOOTBALL

The incident happened on November 2 during a match between CD Tenerife and FC Andorra at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

During the closing moments of the game, De Miguel challenged for the ball as Owono came out to clear it.

The two players collided heavily, leaving the Tenerife forward seriously injured.

Medical staff immediately rushed to assist De Miguel. He suffered a cardiac arrest at the stadium and required emergency resuscitation before being transported by ambulance to the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.

CD Tenerife initially reported that he was in intensive care and in a serious but stable condition.

However, despite medical efforts, the club confirmed the following morning that De Miguel had died.

In an emotional statement, Tenerife announced that the player had passed away at 8 a.m. on November 3.

The club described itself as devastated by the news and expressed its condolences to his family, loved ones and supporters.

OWONO SPEAKS OUT AFTER THE TRAGEDY

Following confirmation of De Miguel’s death, Owono released a statement through FC Andorra.

The goalkeeper made clear how difficult it had been to understand what had happened.

He expressed his sorrow for the loss of another footballer and extended his condolences to De Miguel’s family, friends, teammates and everyone who had been affected.

His words reflected the emotional weight of an incident that neither player could have expected to end in such a devastating way.

Owono’s statement was not an announcement of retirement. Instead, it was an expression of grief and sympathy following the death of a fellow professional.

FC ANDORRA MANAGER REVEALS HOW OWONO IS COPING

On November 12, FC Andorra manager Carles Manso provided an update on the goalkeeper’s condition during a press conference ahead of the team’s next fixture.

Manso said Owono remained deeply affected by the tragedy and was going through what could be one of the most difficult periods of his life.

The coach explained that the goalkeeper was currently spending time with his family, partner and close friends.

He stressed that the club understood how sensitive the situation was and wanted to respect Owono’s privacy.

Manso also made clear that the club would not pressure him into returning to training or competition.

The decision, he said, would belong entirely to Owono.

The goalkeeper would be free to decide whether he wanted to return to football, when he might feel ready, or whether he needed to step away from the game.

Manso emphasized that the club’s priority was to support him not only as a player but also as a person.

RETIREMENT RUMOURS DENIED BY THE CLUB

Following the tragedy, claims began circulating online suggesting that Owono might retire from professional football.

However, Manso directly rejected reports suggesting that the goalkeeper had already made such a decision.

He said it was too early to draw conclusions about Owono’s future and criticized speculation that did not accurately reflect what the player had said or was feeling.

The coach reiterated that the club would give him the space and freedom to make his own decision when he felt ready.

Owono has not returned to training with his teammates and was not included in Equatorial Guinea’s squad for the international fixtures against Zimbabwe during the November break.

Manso also acknowledged that the entire FC Andorra squad had been affected by the tragedy.

The club has made psychological support available to players and staff as they try to process what happened.

A FAMILY LEFT BEHIND

While the football world continues to mourn De Miguel, the greatest loss has been suffered by those closest to him.

The 30-year-old leaves behind his wife and young daughter.

His death has prompted an outpouring of sympathy from supporters, fellow players and clubs across Spain.

A crowdfunding campaign organized to support his family attracted significant donations.

By November 12, the fundraiser had reportedly collected more than €213,000, with the money intended to help De Miguel’s loved ones following his sudden death.

His family later expressed gratitude to everyone who had offered support and asked for privacy during their time of grief.

AN INVESTIGATION AND AN UNCERTAIN RETURN TO FOOTBALL

The circumstances surrounding the fatal collision have also been subject to a judicial investigation, as is standard in Spain following deaths involving non-natural causes.

Reports indicated that prosecutors considered criminal proceedings unlikely, although the investigation remained an important part of establishing the circumstances of the incident.

Owono was sent off following the challenge and could also face sporting disciplinary consequences from the Spanish football authorities.

For now, however, his immediate future remains uncertain.

FC Andorra are preparing to return to competition, with their match against Almería scheduled for November 14 as their first fixture since De Miguel’s death.

The club has made clear that football must take a secondary place while those directly affected deal with the loss.

TWO FOOTBALLERS, ONE TRAGEDY

The death of Jesús de Miguel has left an immeasurable void in the lives of his family, friends and teammates.

For Jesús Owono, the tragedy has brought an entirely different kind of struggle — one involving grief, emotional distress and the difficult reality of being directly involved in the incident that preceded another player’s death.

His manager has asked the public to respect his privacy and allow him to process what happened without pressure or speculation.

Whether Owono eventually returns to the pitch or chooses a different path remains unknown.

For now, FC Andorra says its priority is to stand beside him.

And as the football community continues to remember Jesús de Miguel, the message from both clubs is clear: the family of the player who died deserves compassion, while the goalkeeper involved in the tragic collision also needs understanding and support during an extraordinarily painful time.