A former international footballer has tragically passed away after collapsing during a match. Michael Eneramo, 40, earned 10 caps for Nigeria throughout his professional career, scoring three times, including against Ireland in 2009. Sadly, the former Super Eagle has died while participating in a local match in his home country.
According to reports from local media, he had completed the entire first half before suddenly collapsing five minutes into the second period. Attempts were made to resuscitate him on the pitch before he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
In an official statement, Nigeria Football Federation General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi said: “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.”
He is perhaps best remembered for his time in Turkey, where he was nicknamed the Tank and represented clubs including Besiktas, Istanbul Basaksehir and Sivasspor.
Yet it was in Tunisia where Eneramo truly shone, netting 51 goals in 86 league appearances for Esperance between 2004 and 2010. It was during this remarkable spell that he became a peripheral figure in the Nigerian national set-up.
He played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup, netting in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Tunisia.
The achievement may have carried mixed emotions for Eneramo, who had previously contemplated switching his international allegiance to Tunisia before receiving his Nigerian call-up.
Eneramo hung up his boots from professional football in 2018, yet remained closely connected to the sport by establishing a football academy in Kaduna.
An outpouring of tributes flooded social media for the former star, with the Super Eagles posting a photograph of him alongside the caption: “Rest in peace Michael.
“Thank you for the memories and for everything you brought to the club. You will remain forever in our hearts,” one supporter wrote. While another added: “He was an immense player and above all a great man.”