Former Nigeria international forward Michael Eneramo has died after collapsing during a friendly match, the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed. He was 40.
According to the NFF, Eneramo “appeared to have suffered cardiac arrest” about five minutes into the second half of a match in Kaduna. He had played the entire first half without showing any signs of distress before suddenly collapsing on the pitch without contact.
Medical personnel responded immediately and he was rushed to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Eneramo earned 10 caps for Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, after making his debut in a 2009 friendly against Jamaica.
At club level, he was best known for his highly successful spell with Espérance Sportive de Tunis, where his strength and confident style of play earned him the nickname “the Tank.” He scored 65 goals for the Tunisian side, including 51 in league play between 2004 and 2010, playing a key role in multiple domestic title wins and becoming a fan favorite.
He later continued his career in Turkey, representing clubs such as Beşiktaş, Sivasspor, and İstanbul Başakşehir.
Eneramo also contributed on the international stage, scoring three goals for Nigeria, including an important strike against Tunisia during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Tributes poured in from across the football world following news of his death. Espérance de Tunis honored one of its most influential foreign strikers, while former clubs and Nigeria’s football community expressed their condolences. The Super Eagles’ official account shared a brief message: “Rest in peace, Michael.”
“This is devastating. I am short of words at this moment,” said NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi. “I can only pray that God will grant him eternal rest and give his loved ones and the Nigeria football family the strength to bear the loss.”
