Nigeria Opens World Chess Olympiad Campaign Against New Caledonia, Mali

Team Nigeria will begin its campaign at the 46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday, with the men’s and women’s sides set for their respective opening-round fixtures.

The men’s team will face New Caledonia in its first match, with Nigeria fielding a blend of experienced players and emerging talent. Bomo Kigigha, Bartholomew Okhipo, Abdulrahman Abdulraheem and Odion Aikhoje will feature alongside 15-year-old Ekunke Goodness.

Nigeria’s women, meanwhile, will begin their campaign against Mali, with Deborah Quickpen, Michelle Nwankwo, Sandra Omoruyi, Bridget Michael and Joy Iyefu making up the squad.

The biennial tournament officially commenced with its opening ceremony on Tuesday in Samarkand, bringing together chess players from several countries for the latest edition of one of the sport’s major international team competitions.

Nigeria’s participation also provides an opportunity for its younger players to gain experience on the global stage. Goodness, at 15, is part of the men’s contingent, while Nwankwo is among the youthful members of the women’s team.

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For Nwankwo, competing at the Olympiad represents an important milestone after several years of playing the game.

“I’ve been playing chess for about five or six years,” she said.

She said the opportunity to represent Nigeria had brought excitement but acknowledged that maintaining concentration would be crucial once the games begin.

“I feel really excited. It’s amazing to be able to represent your country at the Olympiad. But you also have to stay strong and focused on the games so that you can perform well.

“You have to balance the excitement with your focus, because you don’t want to get too carried away and end up making mistakes in your games. So, I’m excited, but I also want to remain focused.”

As Nigeria prepares to enter the competition, Nwankwo also expressed confidence in the team’s determination to produce a positive performance and make supporters back home proud.

“Chess lovers across the country and everyone cheering for Team Nigeria should expect us to do well. We’ll try our best, and hopefully, we’ll come back with something good,” she added.

With both teams now set for their opening encounters, Nigeria will seek to make a strong start in Samarkand as competition gets underway at the World Chess Olympiad.