Nigeria's Chess Masters Pursue Continental Glory in Botswana
Team Nigeria will field a seven-player squad at the 2026 African Individual Chess Championships in Jwaneng, Botswana. The event runs from June 18 to 27 at Debswana Jwaneng Mine. The men’s team features Abdulrahmam Abdulraheem Akintoye, Odion Aikhoje, Adeyinka Adewole, Paul Eloka and Tennyson Ewomazino Olisa. Ofowino Toritsemuwa and Bridget Michael will compete in the women’s section. Adewole, who also serves as Nigeria Chess Federation vice president, will lead the delegation. The championship brings together Africa’s strongest players, including Grandmasters, International Masters and emerging talents. It also doubles as a qualifier for the FIDE Chess World Cup, raising the stakes for all participants. This is the first time Botswana hosts the event, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the African Chess Confederation. Organisers expect contestants from 25 countries and a celebration of five decades of chess development in Africa.
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