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Nigeria Men Recover, Women Fight Back for Draw at Chess Olympiad

Posted : 19 September 2026

Team Nigeria’s men bounced back from their second-round setback with a hard-fought 2½-1½ victory over Saudi Arabia, while the women staged a spirited recovery to draw 2-2 with Mozambique on Day 3 of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The men’s encounter went down to the final board after the first three games ended in draws, leaving Odey Goodness Ekunke to provide the decisive result for Nigeria.

Playing on Board 4, Ekunke, rated 2280, defeated Emad Khayat, rated 1939, to secure the point that handed Nigeria its second victory of the competition.

Bomo Lovet Kigigha, rated 2287, held Ahmed Abdullah Alrehaili, rated 2106, while Abdulraheem Abdulrahman Akintoye, rated 2316, drew with Mohammed Dhaidan Alotaibi, rated 1868.

On the top board, Odion Aikhoje, rated 2246, also shared the point with Yazeed Alshnaiber, rated 1866, leaving Ekunke’s victory as the difference between the two teams.

The result provided Nigeria’s men with a timely response after they opened the Olympiad with a victory before losing in the second round.

The women, meanwhile, produced an equally notable fightback after Mozambique raced into a 2-0 lead.

Deborah Ebimobo-ere Quickpen was beaten by Vania Fausto Da T. Vilhete, while Iyefu Joy Onoja lost to Cheila Andre Sitoe, leaving Nigeria facing a difficult task.

Nigeria refused to concede, however, as Michelle Chiamaka Nwankwo reduced the deficit with a victory over Neusa Aridas De Castro.

Sandra Osarugue Omoruyi then completed the recovery by defeating Theodora Efentakis to secure the 2-2 draw.

The outcome leaves the Nigerian women with one win, one defeat and one draw from their opening three matches, while the men have also registered two wins from their first three encounters.

Both teams will now turn their attention to the next round as Nigeria continues its campaign at the prestigious biennial team chess championship.

 

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