Ex-Super Eagles Striker Michael Eneramo Dies at 40 After Collapsing in Kaduna

Former Super Eagles forward Michael Eneramo has died at the age of 40 after collapsing during a local friendly match in Kaduna on Friday.

Eneramo reportedly featured in the first half of the game in Ungwan Yelwa before suddenly going down about five minutes into the second half, with no contact involved. Early reports suggest he may have suffered cardiac arrest.

Efforts were made to revive him at the scene before he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expressed shock over his passing, with General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi describing the incident as devastating and extending condolences to his family and the wider football community.

Eneramo, born on November 26, 1985, in Kaduna, began his professional career with Lobi Stars before moving to Espérance Sportive de Tunis, where he rose to prominence as a prolific striker. His performances earned him a reputation as one of the most effective forwards in North Africa.

He later played in Turkey for clubs including Sivasspor, Beşiktaş, and İstanbul Başakşehir.

On the international stage, Eneramo earned 10 caps for Nigeria between 2009 and 2011, scoring three goals. He made his debut in a friendly against Jamaica in London and was part of the squad during the qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

After retiring from professional football in 2018, he remained involved in the sport, running a football academy in Kaduna and mentoring young players until his death.

His sudden passing has triggered an outpouring of tributes from across the Nigerian football community.