Carl Ikeme reveals the Super Eagles’ biggest regret

Former Super Eagles goalie Carl Ikeme has revealed the abrupt end of his professional career and is still pained by not being able to represent Nigeria in a major tournament.

Ikeme, 40, was at the peak of his career back in 2017 when doctors diagnosed the goalkeeper with leukemia.

On July 6, 2017, Wolverhampton Wanderers announced that Ikeme had been diagnosed with acute leukemia after returning abnormal blood test results during a routine pre-season checkup.

He immediately proceeded to receive treatment, but the chances of returning to the sport even after successfully defeating the disease were ruled out.

Carl Ikeme had earned his first cap in 2015, filling the void after Vincent Enyeama also suddenly retired from the national team.

Ten international matches in that short streak was the number of matches he managed to accumulate, playing in the AFCON and the World Cup qualifiers.

Pain and regret

Speaking about his brief international football journey, Ikeme described it as a painful reminder.

“My biggest regret in my football career is not representing Nigeria more and not attending important competitions with the team.

“I should have been at the World Cup, unfortunately we know why I couldn’t attend.”

“It’s always been that in me, I don’t regret football, but that’s the only thing that burns me,” he concluded.

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Cark Ikeme made 207 appearances in all competitions for Wolves. He was part of their teams that won the Championship in 2009 and League One in 2014, and made one Premier League appearance in 2012.

Following treatment for leukemia, Ikeme retired in 2018 despite announcing that he was in “complete remission” after “a tough year and intense chemotherapy.”

The Wolves agreed, in honor of the Sutton Coldfield-born goalkeeper, to retire his number 1 shirt from the squad that season.