The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that a man arrested for stealing money from the Super Falcons has been sentenced to six months in jail. This news comes after the incident at the team's hotel in Casablanca, Morocco. The theft happened on the last day of their training camp before they headed to Rabat for their first Group C match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Super Falcons midfielder Esther Okoronkwo shared on social media that she, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Michelle Alozie, and captain Rasheedat Ajibade were among the players affected. They lost money from their hotel rooms during the theft.
Okoronkwo stated that over $1,000 was stolen in total. She also criticized the hotel's management for how they handled the situation after the players reported the theft.
Following her post, Okoronkwo faced racist abuse and attacks online from some Moroccan users. This sparked outrage among football fans and stakeholders in Nigeria.
On Monday, the NFF released a statement condemning the abuse aimed at Okoronkwo. They also revealed that the thief was caught, confessed, returned the stolen money, and was sentenced to six months in jail.
“Discrimination in any form has no place in football or society,” the federation said. They added, “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 emphasized that the safety and well-being of the players are their top priorities. Despite this unfortunate event, the ten-time African champions are focused on their campaign in Morocco. Okoronkwo responded to her abusers, telling them to watch out for the team on the pitch.
She was a key player in Nigeria’s record-extending 10th title win last year, contributing seven assists and two goals.
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