Keeper Owono 'would never intentionally hurt anyone'
Goalkeeper Jesus Owono and Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel were involved in a collision during a Spanish second-division match at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez on Monday that left De Miguel fatally injured. Andorra team-mate Lautaro Spatz said Owono "would never intentionally hurt anyone" and had been "deeply affected" by the striker's death.
De Miguel, 30, died after suffering a serious injury in the collision with Owono. He was a father-of-one who joined Tenerife in summer 2025 on a three-year deal. The football world paid tribute with a minute's silence held at all European games this week. Police in Spain opened a routine investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter and, under Spanish law, any death deemed non-natural automatically triggers a judicial inquiry.
Tenerife and Andorra were level at 2-2 when, seven minutes into stoppage time, Owono ran towards the centre circle to clear a long ball. His knee appeared to collide with De Miguel and the striker lay motionless as medical staff treated him on the pitch. De Miguel was taken by ambulance from the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez to hospital.
Owono was sent off and the match was abandoned. On Tuesday morning Owono had over 30,000 followers on Instagram but he has since deactivated his account. The Equatoguinean Football Federation said the 25-year-old was going through a "situation of profound sorrow and grief". Owono has made 47 international appearances for Equatorial Guinea.
Andorra centre-back Lautaro Spatz wrote on social media: "I also want to say a few words about my team-mate, goalkeeper and friend, who is deeply affected by what has happened. "Those of us who know him know the kind of person he is, how much he is suffering at this moment and that he would never intentionally hurt anyone. "In football, unfortunate incidents can happen but no-one could imagine that one of them might end with such tragic consequences." On Tuesday, mourners laid flowers and lit candles beneath a black and white image of De Miguel at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez.
Tenerife said it will commence six official days of mourning and suspend all club activities during that period. The club said players, staff and officials will attend De Miguel's funeral, which will take place in Navahermosa, Toledo. Tenerife will also open their home ground on Saturday evening to allow supporters to "bid a fitting farewell" and "Jesus de Miguel's family would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and, from the bottom of their hearts, ask that their privacy be respected at this terrible time. May he rest in peace," added the statement.