NFF mourns passing of Former Super Eagles forward Michael Eneramo

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is in mourning following the announcement of the passing of former Nigeria international forward Michael Eneramo. Eneramo collapsed on the pitch in Ungwan Yelwa, Kaduna, on Friday morning during a local friendly match in which he had played the entire first half.

​Early reports indicate that Eneramo suffered a cardiac arrest five minutes into the second half. Despite immediate efforts to revive him, medical interventions proved unsuccessful.

​Speaking with NFF media, the General Secretary of the Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, described the news as devastating and offered prayers for the deceased.

“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.”

​A career of national pride

Born on November 26, 1985, in Kaduna, Eneramo was capped 10 times by Nigeria, scoring three goals. Notably, he chose to represent Nigeria after rejecting overtures from Tunisia to switch his nationality and play for the Carthage Eagles.

​He made his debut for the Super Eagles against Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz in a goalless friendly in London on February 11, 2009. In his second appearance, he scored his first international goal in a 1-1 draw against the Republic of Ireland. He was also part of the squad that secured a historic 1-0 win over France in Saint-Étienne just four days later.

​Eneramo played a vital role in Nigeria’s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, featuring in the 3-0 win over Kenya and both ties against Tunisia. His most memorable contribution came on September 6, 2009, when he scored a crucial goal against Tunisia in Abuja.

​Nicknamed “Al Dababa” (The Tank) by the fans of Tunisian giants Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Eneramo was a beloved figure in North Africa, where his powerful style of play helped the club secure numerous trophies. His illustrious club career also included successful stints in Turkey with Beşiktaş, Sivasspor, and İstanbul Başakşehir.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.