FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono is reportedly contemplating walking away from professional football following the tragic death of CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died after a collision involving the two players during a Spanish second-division match.
The 25-year-old Equatorial Guinea international is said to be struggling with overwhelming feelings of guilt and emotional distress following the incident, which occurred on Monday, November 2, during a fixture between the two sides.
De Miguel, 30, suffered a serious injury after colliding with Owono, who had rushed out to clear the ball.
The Tenerife forward was attended to by medical personnel before being rushed to hospital, where he died the following morning.
According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Owono has been so deeply affected by the tragedy that he has considered abandoning football altogether.
Ana Maye, the general coordinator of Equatorial Guinea's men's national team, who has known the goalkeeper since he was 14, revealed the extent of his distress.
Speaking about his condition, Maye said Owono was particularly troubled by thoughts of De Miguel's widow and their 18-month-old child, who have been left to deal with the devastating loss.
She also disclosed that the incident has affected Owono's family, with some of his relatives reportedly facing insults and hostility over the tragedy.
FC Andorra have rallied around their goalkeeper, providing professional psychological support as he struggles to process what happened.
The club has also reportedly been showing him videos of other athletes who have experienced similar traumatic incidents in their careers.
Owono had earlier broken his silence through a statement released by his club, describing the period as the most difficult days of his life.
"I struggle to find the words, and I find it very hard to process what has happened. I feel enormous pain over the loss of Jesus. I think of him, his family, and everyone who loved him," he said.
The goalkeeper has also deactivated his Instagram account following a wave of online abuse, with some users directing hurtful messages at him.
The tragedy has also forced Owono to miss Equatorial Guinea's upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe as he deals with the emotional aftermath.
For now, his future in football remains uncertain.
However, no official retirement announcement has been made, and his reported thoughts of quitting should not be mistaken for a confirmed decision.
As the football community mourns De Miguel, attention is also turning to the psychological toll such a devastating incident can have on players involved in tragedies on the pitch.