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Todor Nedelew in the Nations League game against Wales, October 2020
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Anton Uzunov / AP
Bulgarian football international Todor Nedelew is conscious and responsive following surgery for traumatic brain injury.
This was announced by the Bulgarian association.
The former professional of FSV Mainz 05 was transferred from the intensive care unit of the university hospital in Georgia's capital Tbilisi to the neurosurgical department.
According to the doctors, the operation went well, but there is still no specific date for the 29-year-old's release.
'This was a serious operation and we shouldn't rush things at this point.
The most important thing is that Todor stays calm and can recover as much as possible," said Professor Shota Ingorokwa, who performed the operation, according to the association's statement.
The Bulgarians were involved in a serious traffic accident on their way to the Nations League game in Georgia.
Midfielder Nedelew, who played in Mainz from 2014 to 2016, suffered a traumatic brain injury.
According to the association, everyone else involved in the accident was fine.
The Bulgarians' accident happened on Friday after their arrival in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, where they will play their fourth group game on Sunday (6:00 p.m.).
On the way to the team hotel, the driver of the first of the two buses lost control of the vehicle, which led to the serious accident.
After the collision, Nedelew was transported to a local hospital.
The Bulgarian players wore white T-shirts with Nedelev's portrait on them ahead of Sunday's game.
During the side selection and pennant exchange, Georgia captain Guram Kashia handed Bulgaria captain Nikolai Mihailov a framed shirt with the number 8 and Nedelev's name on it.
Bulgaria have drawn twice so far and lost the first leg at home against leaders Georgia with no points lost 5-2.
ara/dpa
