Super Falcons midfielder Esther Okoronkwo has responded to racist abuse on Instagram after cash was stolen from players at a Casablanca hotel ahead of WAFCON 2026.
Okoronkwo was subjected to racist abuse on social media after she publicly criticized the theft incident that affected several Nigerian players at the team’s hotel in Casablanca, ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. She had publicly revealed that cash was stolen from her and some teammates at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca.
On Sunday, Okoronkwo took to Instagram to condemn the abuse while insisting the team remained focused on the tournament. Her post combined a call for unity with a direct message to her detractors on the field of play.
“Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. We move forward with pride, unity, and determination. See you on the pitch,” Okoronkwo posted.
The midfielder had earlier disclosed that she, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Michelle Alozie, and captain Rasheedat Ajibade were among the players who had money stolen from their hotel rooms before the Super Falcons departed Casablanca for Rabat.
Okoronkwo’s Instagram page was flooded with offensive comments, with several users posting monkey emojis and stickers, while others directed further abuse at the Nigerian international. The volume of the abuse drew attention from journalists and football administrators tracking the tournament.
Following the allegations, social media users flooded Okoronkwo’s Instagram page with abusive comments, with some using racist stereotypes and sharing images of monkeys and gorillas to mock the player.
Nigerian journalist and former Super Eagles media officer Colin Udoh called on football’s governing bodies to respond. “I hope @FIFAcom, @CAF_Online, @CAFwomen, and @CAF_Media take note and take action. This is unacceptable,” he wrote on social media.
The theft case took a new turn after reports emerged that a suspect had been arrested and confessed to the crime. According to Udoh, the suspect is expected to make full restitution while legal proceedings continue.
Despite the sequence of events off the pitch, the Super Falcons have kept their competitive preparations intact. Justine Madugu’s side remains focused on their quest for a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title and will open their Group C campaign against Malawi on Tuesday before taking on Zambia and Egypt.
Okoronkwo plays as a forward for Canadian Northern Super League club AFC Toronto. She is one of the senior figures in the Nigerian squad and had been vocal on the theft matter from the moment the team was still based in Casablanca.
The tournament officially kicked off on July 26. The Super Falcons, who are the defending champions and record 10-time African title holders, are scheduled to begin their WAFCON 2026 campaign against Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
The Nigeria Football Federation and Marriott Hotel Casablanca had not issued official statements regarding the theft allegations at the time of reporting. No response from the hotel management or any Moroccan authority has been recorded in connection with the social media abuse directed at Okoronkwo.
Udoh’s call for action targeted the sport’s top institutional bodies. Neither FIFA nor the Confederation of African Football had publicly acknowledged the abuse directed at Okoronkwo by the time this report was filed on Monday.
Head coach Justine Madugu has a full 25-player squad available after Deborah Abiodun and Gift Monday completed Nigeria’s camp at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca. Their arrival closed the last remaining gaps in the squad, giving Madugu the full range of options she needs as she finalizes her tactical preparations.
Having every player fit, present, and accounted for at this stage of a tournament is not something any coach takes for granted, and for a side carrying the weight of a title defense, the timing matters. That full complement puts the defending champions in a strong position as Group C competition begins Tuesday in Rabat.
