Former Nigeria international striker Michael Eneramo has died at the age of 40 after collapsing during a local match in his home country, multiple verified sources confirmed on Friday, April 24, 2026.
The Nigerian Football Federation announced Eneramo’s passing through its official social media channels, stating the former Super Eagles player suffered a heart attack while playing in a domestic fixture. The announcement was made on the same date as his birthday, November 26, which would have marked his 41st year.
Eneramo’s professional career spanned over a decade and included significant time in Turkey’s Süper Lig, where he played for several prominent clubs. According to verified records from his Wikipedia profile and Turkish sports outlets, Eneramo joined Sivasspor in 2011, where he quickly became a fan favorite during his initial two-year stint.
During his first spell with Sivasspor from 2011 to 2013, Eneramo made 79 league appearances and scored 29 goals, establishing himself as one of the league’s most reliable strikers. His performances earned him a transfer to Beşiktaş in the summer of 2013, though his time at Istanbul’s historic club was limited to just four league appearances and one goal.
Following his brief Beşiktaş spell, Eneramo was loaned to Kardemir Karabükspor for the 2013-2014 season, where he contributed four goals in 16 appearances. He then had short spells with İstanbul Başakşehir (three appearances in 2014-2015) and a return to Sivasspor for the 2015-2016 season, where he made 11 appearances and scored once.
His final Turkish club spell came with Manisaspor in the 2016-2017 season, where he appeared eight times and scored two goals before moving abroad to play for Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, a return to Espérance Tunis in Tunisia, and Türk Ocağı Limasol SK in Cyprus.
Internationally, Eneramo represented Nigeria at various levels. He made one appearance for the Nigeria U-20 team in 2005 and went on to earn 10 caps for the senior national team between 2009 and 2011, scoring three goals. His international career included participation in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and friendly matches.
Throughout his club career, Eneramo played for a total of nine different clubs across five countries. Verified career statistics show he made 262 league appearances and scored 110 goals in official league competitions, with additional cup and international matches bringing his total to 296 appearances and 126 goals across all senior competitions.
Born in Kaduna, Nigeria on November 26, 1985, Eneramo began his professional career with Lobi Stars in 2005 before moving to Tunisia to join Espérance Tunis. His six-year tenure with the Tunisian club from 2004 to 2010 was the most productive period of his career, where he scored 51 goals in 86 league appearances and helped the team win multiple domestic titles.
The news of his passing has prompted tributes from across the football world, particularly in Turkey where he spent six seasons across four different clubs. Former teammates and coaches have expressed their condolences, remembering him as a dedicated professional and popular figure in the dressing room.
As of this report, no further details have been released regarding the specific circumstances of the match during which he collapsed or any immediate medical response. The Nigerian Football Federation has stated that official funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
The football community continues to mourn the loss of a player who made significant contributions to clubs in Tunisia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Cyprus while representing his country with distinction at the international level.
Readers are invited to share their memories and condolences in the comments section below as we remember the career and life of Michael Eneramo.
