The Incident at the Marriott Hotel
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has issued a strong condemnation of racist abuse directed at Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo on social media. The backlash followed a theft incident at the team's Marriott Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco, where a suspect was arrested for stealing cash. According to the NFF, the stolen money was recovered in full, and the perpetrator was sentenced to six months in prison.
Racist Abuse Condemned
After the theft became public, Okoronkwo was targeted with racist comments and offensive emojis online. The NFF released a statement denouncing the abuse. “The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 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 statement read. “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.”
Team Unity and Focus
The NFF reiterated its commitment to protecting the safety and dignity of its players, emphasizing that the team remains undistracted. “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 #WAFCON2026 opener against Malawi,” the statement added. The Super Falcons are set to begin their WAFCON title defence against debutants Malawi at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among Nigerian football fans, with many supporting Okoronkwo and calling for action against online hate. The NFF has not announced further steps but affirmed its stance against all forms of discrimination.
