Nigerian Chess Master Onakoya Presents Custom-made Chessboard Super Eagles Star, Lookman

Tunde Onakoya, the celebrated Nigerian chess master known for his global marathon record, recently visited Madrid to present a custom-made chessboard to Atlético Madrid’s in-form winger, Ademola Lookman. The gift celebrates the footballer’s outstanding performances in La Liga.

Onakoya documented the meeting on his X account, which took place shortly after Lookman’s latest heroics. The Super Eagles star had just scored in Atlético’s thrilling 4-2 victory over Espanyol at the Metropolitano, further cementing his burgeoning reputation in Spain.

The sleek, black chessboard, a product of Onakoya’s collaboration with NEOCHESS, featured a personal inscription. It served as a token of admiration for Lookman’s journey to becoming recognised as one of Africa’s top players.

“One chessboard delivered to Africa’s best, Ademola Lookman,” Onakoya posted alongside photographs of the pair. “He invited me to watch the game and scored a brilliant header. I was beaming with pride. Naija boys are up to the stars.”

The visit to the Spanish capital proved busy for the 31-year-old founder of Chess in Slums Africa. The previous day, Onakoya was pitchside at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu, teasing his followers about which football legend in the city would be next to receive one of his signature boards.

For Onakoya, this gesture extends beyond a simple fan encounter. It symbolises a connection between the discipline of sport and the intellectual rigour of chess, all while championing Nigerian excellence. Through his foundation, Onakoya utilises chess to empower children in underserved communities, and this meeting with Lookman serves as a high-profile reminder of that mission: that with focus and strategy, Nigerian talents can excel on any global stage.