By Saidu Abubakar
According to reports on Friday, 24th April, 2026, Michael Eneramo, a former Super Eagles player, slumped and died while playing in a local football match at Angwan Yelwa, a suburb of Kaduna, where the 40-year-old was featuring when the incident occurred.
The former international came on in the second half as a substitute only to collapse without any contact, an eyewitness confirmed, adding that “he slumped and died right on the spot. All efforts to revive him proved futile. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.”
The late ex-Eagles player had played for Nigerian side Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Esperance of Tunisia, where he was nicknamed ‘Al Dababa’ (The Tank) by fans for his physical presence and attacking prowess.
The official X handle of the Super Eagles has been reported to have mourned the former striker on Friday, posting his picture with the caption “Rest in peace, Michael.”
Eneramo won 10 caps for the Super Eagles and had spells in Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey during a club career which saw him earn respect and admiration for his strength, work rate and goalscoring ability.
NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi described the death as “devastating”. “I can only pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also grant his loved ones and the Nigerian football family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
He was a symbol of strength, determination and resolve and created unforgettable moments, the four-time African champions said in a post on X.
Eneramo reportedly turned down overtures from Tunisia to represent the Carthage Eagles internationally before making his Nigeria debut against Jamaica in 2009.
One of the high points of his time with the Super Eagles was during qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when he scored in the 2–2 draw at home against Tunisia, which proved crucial in Nigeria eventually reaching the finals. However, he was not selected in the squad for the tournament in South Africa.
Eneramo is the latest former international player from the continent to die on the pitch with a suspected heart issue. Cameroon’s Marc-Vivien Foe, Ivorian Cheick Tiote, and Ghana’s Raphael Dwamena are among the most high-profile names to pass away in similar circumstances.
In 2009, a medical research team backed by the world governing body FIFA determined that Black African athletes “seem to have an increased risk of adverse cardiac events during sports events”, while former Ivory Coast and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has called for “compulsory medical visits” to screen all professional players in his homeland.