Abimbola Ayotomiwa Osunfuyi, a FIDE Master from Nigeria and a Nigeria national chess team member, is currently in Budapest, Hungary, representing Nigeria at the 45th Chess Olympiad. While Osunfuyi successfully traveled from the United States to represent Nigeria, his teammates are facing visa delays, putting their participation in jeopardy.
In a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), Osunfuyi appeals to the Hungarian Ministry of Tourism to reconsider Team Nigeria’s visa applications, emphasizing the team’s dedication and the values of unity and respect that the Chess Olympiad embodies. He calls on the international chess community for understanding and support in this critical situation.
Visa issues have been a recurring problem for Nigerian athletes, affecting not only the chess team but also other sports teams, such as the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s national football team. The high rate of Schengen visa rejections for Nigerian applicants worsens the situation, with countries like France, Spain, and Italy having high rejection rates.
The highly anticipated Chess Olympiad 2024 began in the Open and Women’s sections amid unexpected setbacks. Nearly 40 teams missed round 1 due to visa issues, overshadowing the event’s records and achievements. A missing broadcast of the opening ceremony, accommodation problems, and reports of overcharged players stand in stark contrast to the €16.6 million budget. The promoted gender equality is affected by absent teams, and the historic debut of the Refugees team has turned into a historic absence Chessdom reports.
