NFF condemns racist abuse against Nigeria star Esther Okoronkwo after Morocco hotel theft incident

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has strongly condemned the racist abuse targeted at Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo following the theft incident involving the Nigerian women’s national team during their stay in Morocco.

The West African football powerhouse authorities described the online attacks directed at the 29-year-old striker as unacceptable and stressed that racism and discrimination have no place in football or society.

In a statement, the NFF expressed disappointment over the comment directed at Okoronkwo, insisting that the abuse was completely unjustified, especially after Moroccan authorities had already resolved the matter.

“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. Discrimination in any form has no place in football or society,” the federation stated.

The controversy emerged after reports of a theft at the Super Falcons’ team hotel during their participation in Morocco, with some individuals directing hateful messages towards Okoronkwo and other members of the Nigerian delegation on social media.

However, the NFF clarified that the matter had already been handled by the relevant authorities, revealing that the person responsible for the theft was arrested, ordered to return the stolen money in full, and subsequently sentenced to six months in prison.

The federation questioned the reasoning behind the racist attacks against the Nigerian forward, highlighting that the criminal act was committed by an individual and should not be used as a basis for targeting players or an entire nation.

“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 added.

Okoronkwo, who has become an important figure for the Super Falcons, has continued to receive support from the federation and teammates following the incident.

The NFF reiterated its commitment to protecting its players and promoting respect, unity and fairness within football, while calling for stronger action against online abuse and discriminatory behaviour.

As Nigeria continue their campaign at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the federation has urged supporters to focus on football and support the players rather than engage in harmful attacks based on race or nationality.