Esther Okoronkwo has been subjected to racist abuse on social media after alleging that members of the Super Falcon’s squad were victims of theft during their stay at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Okoronkwo made the allegations in a series of posts shared on her Snapchat account on Friday, claiming that hotel staff stole money from several members of the Super Falcons contingent.
According to the forward, she personally lost $700, while more than $1,250 was allegedly stolen in total, with captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Joy Omewa, Halimatu Ayinde and Michelle Alozie among those said to have lost money.
The allegations sparked widespread reactions online, particularly from Moroccan social media users, with many taking issue with the claims made by the Nigerian international.
More Read
However, the response quickly descended into racist and abusive attacks directed at Okoronkwo.
The forward’s Instagram page, where she had shared photographs of herself wearing the Super Falcons’ traditional Adire outfit and Nigeria’s official jersey for the 2026 WAFCON, was flooded with offensive comments.
Several users posted monkey emojis and stickers, while others accused the Nigerian international of stealing food from the hotel. Some commenters also criticised her for recording individuals without their permission and urged her to show respect to the people and the country.
The racist abuse has drawn concern, with many describing such behaviour as unacceptable and completely at odds with the values of African football. Racism has no place in sport, and targeting a player with discriminatory insults over allegations yet to be officially investigated undermines the spirit of unity and mutual respect that the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations seeks to promote.
With the tournament bringing together nations from across the continent, incidents of racial abuse risk bringing the competition into disrepute and overshadowing what is intended to be a celebration of African football, culture and togetherness.
At the time of publication, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca are yet to issue official statements regarding both the theft allegations and the racist abuse directed at the Super Falcons forward.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations gets underway on Sunday with Algeria taking on Senegal before hosts Morocco face Kenya later in the evening.
Nigeria will begin their title defence on Tuesday against Malawi as the Super Falcons aim to retain the crown they won in Morocco last year and secure a record-extending 11th continental title.
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
