The Nigeria Football Federation and Canadian club AFC Toronto have condemned racist abuse directed at Super Falcons midfielder Esther Okoronkwo on social media following a theft incident involving the player at the team’s hotel in Morocco.
The incident occurred during Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, after a hotel employee allegedly stole cash belonging to Okoronkwo.
Moroccan authorities subsequently arrested the suspect, recovered the stolen money and ordered its return to the player. The offender was also sentenced to six months in prison.
However, following the incident, Okoronkwo was subjected to racist comments and monkey emojis on social media. The player responded publicly to the abuse, prompting strong reactions from the NFF and her Canadian club.
In separate statements posted on their X accounts on Monday, both organisations condemned the abuse and expressed their support for the Nigeria international.
The NFF described the racist attacks as unacceptable, stressing that discrimination has no place in football or society.
The federation also noted that the individual responsible for the theft had been arrested, forced to return the stolen cash and sentenced to six months in prison.
It added that the safety, dignity and welfare of the Super Falcons players remained a priority, urging the team to remain focused on their 2026 WAFCON campaign.
AFC Toronto also condemned the abuse, declaring that racism has no place in football.
The club said Okoronkwo had been subjected to racist attacks while representing Nigeria at the tournament and reaffirmed its commitment to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all players.
The club further expressed pride in standing with Okoronkwo and other athletes who face racism and discrimination both on and off the pitch.
It quoted the player as saying, “Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that,” while reiterating its commitment to fighting racism and promoting inclusion in football.
