One regret Carl Ikeme cannot forget: How illness robbed Super Eagles of a World Cup goalkeeper

Carl Ikeme achieved many remarkable things during his football career, but there is one memory that still troubles the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 40-year-old believes missing out on representing Nigeria at a major international tournament is the only regret he carries from his playing days.

Ikeme was enjoying the best period of his career in 2017. He had become Wolverhampton Wanderers’ first-choice goalkeeper after years of patience, loan spells and hard work. At the same time, he was also starting to establish himself as Nigeria’s new No. 1 following Vincent Enyeama’s surprise international retirement.

Everything changed on July 6, 2017. Wolves announced that routine pre-season blood tests had revealed Ikeme had acute leukemia. Instead of preparing for another Championship season and Nigeria’s final push towards the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the goalkeeper began intensive medical treatment.

Although Ikeme successfully beat the disease and later announced he was in “complete remission” after a difficult year of chemotherapy, doctors ruled out a return to professional football. He officially retired in July 2018 at the age of 32.

Speaking about the painful chapter, Ikeme admitted there is one achievement he wishes he could have experienced.

“My regret in my football career is not representing Nigeria more and not going to major competitions with the team,” he told BrilaMedia.

“I should have been at the World Cup, unfortunately we know why I could not make it. It has always been that thing in me, I have no regrets about football but that is the only thing that burns me.”

Before illness cut his career short, Ikeme had made 10 appearances for Nigeria between 2015 and 2017. Those matches included key Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup qualifiers as the Super Eagles rebuilt under different coaches after Enyeama’s departure.

How Ikeme’s absence changed the Super Eagles goalkeeping picture

Born in Sutton Coldfield, England, to a Nigerian father and an English mother, Ikeme chose to represent Nigeria despite being eligible for England. Although first included in a provisional Super Eagles squad by Berti Vogts in 2007, he had to wait eight years before finally making his senior debut under Sunday Oliseh against Tanzania on September 5, 2015.

By then, Enyeama had stepped away from international football, and Ikeme quickly became Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper. He featured in the early stages of the Super Eagles’ successful qualification campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and appeared ready to lead the team to Russia before his diagnosis ended those hopes.

His absence created a problem Nigeria struggled to solve for years. From 2017 until the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles rotated several goalkeepers, including Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi, Maduka Okoye and a number of Nigeria Premier Football League shot-stoppers. None managed to make the position their own or provide the consistency the team enjoyed during Ikeme’s brief spell. Following Ikeme’s exit, Nigeria crashed out of the 2018 World Cup in the group stage, failed to qualify for the 2017 AFCON and missed the 2022 World Cup.

It was not until Stanley Nwabali emerged during the 2023 AFCON that Nigeria finally found another dependable first-choice goalkeeper.

At club level, Ikeme also left behind an impressive legacy. He joined Wolves’ academy at 14 in 2000, signed his first professional contract in 2003 and spent his entire 15-year senior career with the club. Along the way, he gained experience through loan spells at Accrington Stanley, Stockport County, Charlton Athletic, Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, Middlesbrough and Doncaster Rovers.

He eventually became Wolves’ undisputed No. 1 from the 2012-13 season, making 207 appearances across all competitions. He helped the club win the Championship title in 2009 and the League One title in 2014, while also making one Premier League appearance against Blackburn Rovers in March 2012.

In recognition of his courage and service after his leukemia diagnosis, Wolves retired his No. 1 shirt during the 2018-19 season.