AFCON 2025
If you are familiar with the history of Nigerian football, particularly the Super Eagles, you would realize that the team has always been blessed with talented goalkeepers, perhaps until recently.
From the days of Emmanuel Okala, Best Ogendegbe, Dosu Joseph, the late Peter Rufai and Vincent Enyeama, the Super Eagles never had to worry about goalkeepers as coaches often develop “headache” while selecting their first choices.
Carl Ikeme, Vincent Enyeama’s successor came at a time when his predecessor left the Super Eagles without an adequate succession plan.
Against the odds, he stepped into the “shoes” of Enyeama and never struggled to dance around the goalline with them with his sharp reflexes and command of his goal area.
Carl Ikeme took the number 1 spot and owned it as he helped the Super Eagles qualify for 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Unfortunately, Ikeme couldn’t attend the tournament due to illness which forced him to retire from football earlier than planned.
Carl Ikeme is a Wolverhampton Wanderers legend . He helped the club secure promotion to the Premier League after winning the English Championship in 2009.
Carl Ikeme was born in the Midlands in the United Kingdom but chose to represent the Super Eagles of Nigeria instead.
This post traces the Carl Ikeme’s background, career, achievements, fight over cancer and other endeavors of the former Super Eagles shot stopper.
Carl Ikeme Background
Carl Ikeme was born to a Nigerian father and English mother on the 8th of June, 1986 in Sutton Goldfield, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
How old is Carl Ikeme?
Carl Ikeme, the former Super Eagles and Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper is 39 years old as of 2025 and he is 6 ft and 2 inches tall.
Career
Carl Ikeme played for Wolverhampton Wanderers but went on loan to several clubs during his career.
Ikeme grew through the ranks at Wolves and was selected for the first team squad for the 2003/2004 Premier League season but didn’t play a match despite Matt Murray’s long-term injury.
Ikeme’s early career was marked by several loans to gain experience while at Wolves. In October 2004, he joined Accrington Stanley on a month-long loan and made his debut with a clean sheet in a draw against Aldershot. He made made just four appearances before returning to Wolves.
Carl Ikeme made his Wolves debut in August 2005 during a 5-1 League Cup win over Chester City. His league debut for Wolves came in August 2006 as he came on as a late sub in a 1-0 victory against Luton Town.
Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury in 2006-07 which sidelined him until late 2007, after which he mostly featured in the team’s reserves as he prepared to return to the first team.
Carl Ikeme returned to Wolves’ first team in September 2008 amid Wayne Hennessey’s suspension. He enjoyed his longest stint in between the sticks until another injury as the team won the Championship that season.
After regaining fitness, Ikeme went on a couple of loans: Charlton in October 2009 (5 appearances), Sheffield United (cut short by hamstring injury), and QPR in January 2010 (17 games).
In August 2010, he went to Leicester on emergency loan (extended, 4 games) before he returned to Wolves for the rest of the season.
He also went on loan to Middlesbrough in August 2011 for a month extended twice. He notched six clean sheets in 10 games before a hand injury. Doncaster Rovers came calling in November 2011 and played five games before returning to the club for the second time in March 2012 on loan until season’s end, but was recalled after Hennessey’s injury as Doncaster faced relegation.
Return to Wolverhampton Wanderers
After a long wait since 2009, Carl Ikeme finally made his return for Wolves in May 2012. He came on as a second half substitute for Dutch goalkeeper Dorus de Vries in the 3-2 loss to Wigan Athletic on the final day of the season at the DW Stadium.
Ikeme’s time in goal at Wolves was unfortunately plagued by injuries, including two separate broken hands. The first occurred in a moment of anger after conceding a bizarre own goal, which he suffered by punching a tactics board at halftime.
Despite these setbacks, Ikeme was a key part of the squad that won the League One title in 2014, earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Carl Ikeme continued to be a vital player for Wolves, known for his penalty-saving prowess, and signed a contract in 2017 to keep him at the club until 2020. His passion sometimes got the better of him, however, notably when he received a red card for pushing a Wes Hoolahan.
Carl Ikeme and the Super Eagles
Carl Ikeme’s dream of playing for Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagle became a reality in 2007. Although he was first called up in 2007, it wasn’t until September 2015 that he earned his first appearance in a qualifying match against Tanzania under former coach Sunday Oliseh.
However, Ikeme soon became a crucial part of the team, playing a key role in securing Nigeria’s spot for the 2018 World Cup.
Unfortunately, leukemia tragically cut short Ikeme’s journey, forcing him to step away from the game for treatment. Carl Ikeme’s absence impacted the team deeply; the team’s manager, Gernot Rohr, stated that not having Ikeme at the World Cup in Russia was his single greatest regret.
Carl Ikeme Illness – Leukemia
In July 2017, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ first-choice goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, received a life-altering diagnosis.
Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukaemia after a routine pre-season check-up.
While his teammates went on to win the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League, Ikeme was bravely facing a year of intense chemotherapy.
A few months after his recovery Carl Ikeme revealed how he broke the news of his diagnosis to his pregnant wife:
She was the first person I told. I was obviously upset, as you would be after that sort of news,” Ikeme said.
“I was in shock. I got back home and thought: ‘I need to tell Saba.’ I called her and I couldn’t get it out on the phone, but she knew something was up. I got back and Saba came in and I told her the news. She was nine months pregnant at the time, due next week. I’ve never seen her cry the way she cried. It was tough.”
After a tremendously difficult fight, Ikeme shared wonderful news with the public in June 2018 that he was in complete remission but had to retire from professional football on medical grounds.
In a touching tribute to Carl Ikeme’s legacy, the club’s new signing, goalkeeper Rui Patrício, chose to wear the number 11 jersey instead, leaving the number 1 shirt vacant in Ikeme’s honour.
Career Achievements
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Football League Championship: 2008–09
- Football League One: 2013–14
Individual
- Football League One Team of the Season: 2013–14
- PFA Team of the Year: 2013–14 League One
Other endeavors
Carl Ikeme practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and holds a blue belt in the combat sport. He is a British Open winner and won a bronze medal at the IBJJF European Championship
Carl Ikeme Wife
Carl Ikeme married Saba, and they have two daughters, Maya and Mila. Saba was a major source of support for Carl Ikeme during his battle with leukemia. He insisted that Saba should ensure their children have a normal life while he was ill.
Carl Ikeme net worth
Certainly Carl Ikeme was playing football for free during his active days even though he loved the spot dearly. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to narrow down his net worth but the former Wolverhampton Wanderers is very likely living a comfortable life with his family in the United Kingdom.
Social Media
Carl Ikeme is active on Instagram with more than 25K followers on his page. He’s also on X with over 50K followers.
Carl Ikeme “Why Not Me”
Carl Ikeme wrote a book titled “Why Not Me” about his career on and off the pitch. It was published in 2019.
