FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono has spoken publicly for the first time following the death of CD Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, describing the tragedy as the most difficult period of his life.

The 25-year-old FC Andorra goalkeeper released an emotional statement through his club on Wednesday, 4 November, expressing his devastation over the death of the 30-year-old Tenerife striker.

The two players collided during a match between FC Andorra and CD Tenerife on Monday, 2 November. The incident happened during the closing stages of the game, when Owono rushed out towards the centre of the pitch to challenge for a long ball.

The collision left De Miguel seriously injured. He was taken to hospital and admitted to intensive care but tragically died on Tuesday morning, 3 November.

The incident has since sent shockwaves through Spanish football, with tributes pouring in from clubs, players and supporters.

Jesús Owono releases emotional statement

In his first public comments since the tragedy, Owono described the days following De Miguel's death as the most difficult of his life.

His statement, released by FC Andorra, read:

"These are the most difficult days of my life."

He went on to explain that he was struggling to process what had happened and acknowledged that there would be questions to address, saying he would face them with the utmost respect.

Owono also expressed the enormous pain he felt over the loss of De Miguel, saying his thoughts were with the footballer, his family and everyone who loved him.

He concluded his message by saying that, for now, he could think of nothing other than Jesús and the pain being experienced by those affected, ending with the words: "Rest in peace, Jesus."

Goalkeeper deactivates Instagram following online abuse

Following De Miguel's death, Owono reportedly deactivated his Instagram account after receiving a wave of abusive messages from social media users.

Some individuals had posted accusations and insults beneath his previous posts, including calling him a murderer.

Spanish national police have opened a routine investigation into De Miguel's death. No conclusion of criminal responsibility has been reported.

FC Andorra has also confirmed that psychological support is being made available to anyone at the club who needs it following the tragedy.

Teammate comes to Owono's defence

Owono's teammate Lautaro Spatz has also spoken out, defending the goalkeeper and describing the devastating impact the incident has had on the team.

Writing on social media, the Andorra defender said he wanted to acknowledge how deeply affected his teammate and friend had been by what happened.

He emphasised that those who knew Owono understood how much he was suffering and said he would never intentionally hurt anyone.

Spatz also reflected on the unpredictable nature of football, explaining that although unfortunate incidents happen in the sport, nobody could have imagined that this particular collision would have such tragic consequences.

He extended his condolences to De Miguel's family, friends and everyone connected with CD Tenerife.

Who was Jesús Owono?

Jesús Owono is a 25-year-old goalkeeper who represents Equatorial Guinea internationally and plays for FC Andorra.

He has made 47 international appearances for Equatorial Guinea and previously played for Spanish club Deportivo Alavés.

Following the incident, the Equatoguinean Football Federation also expressed its support for Owono, acknowledging the profound grief he was experiencing.