Former Super Eagles forward Michael Eneramo died on Friday after collapsing during a local friendly match in Kaduna, the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed.
Eneramo, 40, reportedly played the entire first half in Ungwan Yelwa before suffering what early reports suggest was a cardiac arrest five minutes into the second half.
“This is devastating. I am short of words at this moment,” NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi said from Cairo. “I can only pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also grant his loved ones and the Nigerian football family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
Born in Kaduna on 26 November 1985, Eneramo earned 10 caps for Nigeria. He debuted against Jamaica in London in 2009 and scored his first international goal against the Republic of Ireland months later. One of his standout moments came in Abuja during a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Tunisia, where he netted in a 2-2 draw.
Nicknamed Al Dababa “The Tank” by Esperance Sportive de Tunis fans, Eneramo had a distinguished club career in Tunisia and Turkey, featuring for Esperance, Besiktas, Sivasspor, and Istanbul Basaksehir. He was widely respected for choosing Nigeria over an offer to represent Tunisia internationally.
His death is the latest painful loss for Nigerian football.
