The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condemned the racist abuse directed at Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo on social media following a theft incident involving the team’s hotel in Morocco.
The federation’s reaction comes after reports of a theft at the Super Falcons’ Marriott Hotel in Casablanca, where a suspect accused of stealing cash was arrested by Moroccan authorities.
According to the NFF, the stolen money was recovered in full, while the suspect was prosecuted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
Despite the arrest and recovery of the money, Okoronkwo was subjected to racist comments and offensive emojis on social media, prompting the federation to issue a strong condemnation.
“The Nigeria Football Federation strongly condemns the unacceptable racist abuse directed at Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo on social media following recent incidents at the team’s hotel in Morocco,” the federation said in a statement.
“The racist abuse and emojis directed at our player make absolutely no sense, especially as the individual responsible for the theft was apprehended, made to return the stolen cash in full, and sentenced to six months in prison.”
The NFF reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare, dignity and safety of its players, stressing that the incident would not distract the team from its objectives at the tournament.
“The safety, dignity and well-being of our players remain our utmost priority. The entire team stands united, unbothered by distractions, and fully focused on tomorrow’s WAFCON 2026 opener against Malawi,” the statement added.
The Super Falcons are set to begin the defence of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title against tournament debutants Malawi at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.
