 |
| File photo of Esther Okoronkwo |
NFF Condemns Racist Abuse of Esther Okoronkwo Ahead of Super Falcons' WAFCON 2026 Opener
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has strongly condemned the racist abuse directed at Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo following a theft incident at the team's hotel in Morocco ahead of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
According to the NFF, cash belonging to members of the Nigerian women's national team was stolen at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca, where the Super Falcons are staying for the tournament. Moroccan authorities quickly arrested the suspect, recovered the stolen money in full, and handed the offender a six-month prison sentence.
Despite the swift resolution of the case, Okoronkwo became the target of racist comments and offensive emojis on social media, prompting the football federation to issue a strong statement condemning the online attacks.
"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 federation said.
"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 stressed that the actions of a single individual should never be used to justify racism, discrimination, or online harassment against any player.
Reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of the Super Falcons squad, the federation said the safety, dignity, and well-being of every player remain a top priority throughout the WAFCON 2026 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 #WAFCON2026 opener against Malawi," the statement added.
The incident comes as the Super Falcons prepare to begin their quest for a record-extending 11th Women's Africa Cup of Nations title. Nigeria will kick off its Group C campaign against tournament debutants Malawi on Tuesday at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.
Kick-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Nigerian time, with the nine-time African champions aiming to make a winning start to their WAFCON 2026 title defence.