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Former Nigeria international Michael Eneramo has died at the age of 40 after collapsing during a local match in Kaduna, Footynaija reports.
The ex-Besiktas forward fell to the ground just five minutes into the second half of a friendly game in Ungwan Yelwa on Friday morning, with no contact involved. Early reports suggest a cardiac arrest. Efforts were made to revive him before he was rushed to hospital, but he was later pronounced dead.
The news has shaken Nigerian football. Mohammed Sanusi reacted with grief, saying: “This is devastating. I am short of words at this moment. I can only pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also grant his loved ones and the Nigeria football family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
Eneramo, born on 26 November 1985 in Kaduna, built his reputation as a powerful and reliable striker. He began his career at Lobi Stars before moving to Espérance Sportive de Tunis in 2004, where he became a cult hero. Nicknamed “Al Dababa” (The Tank), he scored 51 goals in 86 league matches and helped the club win major domestic honours.
His form earned him moves to Turkey, featuring for Sivasspor, Beşiktaş and İstanbul Başakşehir, with his most productive spell coming at Sivasspor, where he netted 29 goals in 77 appearances.
At international level, Eneramo’s story was more complicated. After years in Tunisia, he was heavily courted by the Tunisia national football team, who wanted to naturalise him ahead of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He resisted, holding on to his ambition of representing Nigeria.
That chance came in 2009 under coach Amodu Shuaibu, making his debut against Jamaica in London. He went on to score three goals in 10 appearances, including a crucial strike in a 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw against Tunisia in Abuja.
However, his international career never fully took off. He was omitted from Nigeria’s squads for both the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2010 World Cup. The disappointment lingered. In 2011, a frustrated Eneramo said: “I abandoned Tunisia, who desperately wanted me… because I love my country. It is not fair.”
He later admitted regret, feeling his decision had cost him a longer international career.
After retiring in 2018, Eneramo returned to Kaduna, where he ran a football academy, working to guide young players until his sudden death.
