Tunde Onakoya fulfills dream at Bernabéu, gifts chessboard to Nigerian ‘football legend’

Renowned Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, fulfilled a childhood dream with a visit to the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Soccernet.ng reports.

Onakoya shared his experience on social media, posting a photo of himself pitchside at Real Madrid’s home ground.

During the visit, Onakoya announced he would gift a custom chessboard to fellow Nigerian and Atletico Madrid forward Ademola Lookman.

On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “I have one chess board with me in Madrid, which football legend should I give it to?” The post featured images of Onakoya on the Bernabéu turf and a close-up of the “NEOCHESS x Tunde Onakoya” board, inscribed with the motivational quote: “It is possible to do great things from a small place.”

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Within minutes, Onakoya tagged Lookman, saying, “Hello, my good man @Alookman_ I’ve got a chess board for you!”

Hello my good man @Alookman_ I’ve got a chess board for you! https://t.co/w57WQhGVrQ

— Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD) February 20, 2026

Reports or any media footage of Lookman accepting the gift are yet to be made public, but many have praised the gesture from the chess master.

The Nigerian ‘legend' stems from his impact on the Super Eagles of Nigeria, his hat-trick in Atalanta’s 2024 Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen, and being named the 2024 African best player of the year.

Onakoya’s visit also included a stop at a local Madrid chess bar, where he shared his “Ikorodu gambit,” inspired by his Lagos roots.

In a Facebook video from Madrid, he encouraged followers to pursue their passions, captioning it: “From the chessboard, with love Episode 1.”

The trip follows Onakoya’s record-breaking achievements, including the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon in New York’s Times Square in 2024, aimed at raising funds for children’s education.