The tragedy at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez on November 2, 2026, has left an indelible scar on Spanish football. 

Following an 97th-minute high-ball collision between Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel and Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono, the 30-year-old striker suffered cardiac arrest and passed away the following morning.

As Tenerife mourns a fallen star, the man at the center of the incident, 25-year-old Jesus Owono, finds himself trapped in the darkest chapter of his life. 

Isolated at home, targeted by intense online abuse, and facing a public trial on social media, Owono released a heartbroken statement.

 "These have been the hardest days of my life... I feel immense grief at the loss of Jesus," Owono said.

Born in West Africa, raised in the Basque Country

Born on March 1, 2001, in the coastal port city of Bata, Equatorial Guinea, Jesus Lazaro Owono Ngua moved to San Sebastian in northern Spain at age eight. 

His primary motivation was reuniting with his mother, who had already settled in Europe.

He joined the prestigious Basque youth academy Antiguoko, the same grassroots club that nurtured big names like Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso, Andoni Iraola and Martin Zubimendi.

Crucially, Owono was not born a goalkeeper. He started as a fast, physical striker who loved scoring goals. His shift to the net was born out of an accidental clash: after colliding with his own team's goalkeeper in a youth match, a 10-year-old Owono volunteered to play in goal the next day out of guilt. 

By age 12, his natural reflexes and athletic frame earned him a place in Real Sociedad’s youth academy.

Equatorial Guinea’s AFCON hero

Recognising that his path to Real Sociedad’s first team was blocked, a 16-year-old Owono made the calculated decision to move to Deportivo Alaves.

While serving primarily as an understudy to Antonio Sivera at Alavés (making 20 senior appearances over four seasons), Owono announced himself on the international stage during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (played in January 2022).

At just 20 years old, he anchored Equatorial Guinea's fairytale run to the quarter-finals. He kept 3 clean sheets in 5 tournament matches, most notably saving two spot-kicks in a dramatic round-of-16 shootout victory over Mali.

Seeking consistent first-team football, Owono joined FC Andorra—the Segunda Division club majority-owned by Gerard Pique—on loan in 2025 before completing a permanent free transfer in August 2026.

Facing systemic abuse and practicing stoicism

Owono’s football journey in Spain has frequently collided with harsh off-field realities. As one of the few Black goalkeepers in the top tiers of Spanish football, he has been an outspoken voice against racism in La Liga.

In a 2024 documentary on racism in Spanish sports, Owono reflected on the verbal abuse he endured growing up:

"When I was younger, you would hear 'Monkey', 'Go back to your country'. You start to think you’re to blame. But as I grew up, I realised I was doing nothing wrong... we might have different cultures, but we are all the same."

Off the pitch, teammates describe Owono as an approachable, deeply empathetic individual who collects Marvel action figures, listens to everything from Afrobeat to Beethoven, and studies Stoic philosophy to manage the unpredictability of professional sport. 

That mental fortitude is currently being tested to its absolute limits, as online death threats forced him to delete his social media accounts entirely this week.

The collision with Jesus de Miguel

The incident occurred in the 97th minute of Monday’s 2-2 draw between Tenerife and Andorra. 
Chasing a long ball into the box, Owono rushed out to clear the high ball, raising his leg in a challenge that resulted in a devastating chest impact with De Miguel.

Referee Manuel Angel Perez Hernández issued a direct red card to Owono for "using excessive force while the ball was in play".

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is evaluating the referee's report. Under Spanish disciplinary codes, Owono faces a potential suspension of up to 12 matches, which would keep him out of action until February 2027 at the earliest.

While Spanish police initiated a standard protocol investigation due to the non-natural cause of death, Santa Cruz de Tenerife's chief prosecutor confirmed it is exceptionally unlikely any criminal charges will follow, viewing the event as a catastrophic sporting accident.

Support from teammates and the football community

While the loss of De Miguel has devastated the Spanish football pyramid, figures across the game have urged sensitivity toward Owono's psychological state.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique highlighted the shared grief on both sides: "We're all sorry for the family of the player who died, but also we have to think about the player involved and what his family is suffering."

Andorra center-back Lautaro Spatz defended his teammate's character as quoted by The Athletic:

"There are moments when football no longer makes sense... My teammate, goalkeeper, and friend is deeply affected. 

“Those of us who know him know the class of person he is and that he would never have the intention to hurt anybody. Accidents happen in football, but nobody could imagine one ending with such tragic consequences."

Final thoughts

The death of Jesus de Miguel is a heartbreak that Spanish football will carry for years. For Jesus Owono, he will have to overcome the painful process of healing from an unintended tragedy that altered two lives forever.