Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A suspect has reportedly confessed to the theft of cash from Super Falcons players at their hotel in Casablanca, Morocco, just days before Nigeria's title defence at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations began. The suspect, identified as a worker at the Marriott Hotel where the team was staying, allegedly admitted to taking money from the players' wallets while they were away from their rooms. Full restitution of the stolen funds is expected as the Moroccan authorities continue their investigation into the incident that briefly overshadowed the team's preparations for the tournament.
The theft, which occurred on July 25, 2026, saw Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo take to Snapchat to accuse hotel staff of stealing from her and several teammates, sparking widespread outrage and concern for the team's security. Okoronkwo initially claimed that $500 had been stolen from her belongings before correcting the figure to $700 after recounting her money. The total amount allegedly taken from the affected players is estimated at $1,220, with Rasheedat Ajibade, Joy Omewa, Osinachi Ohale, and Halimatu Ayinde all reportedly affected. Okoronkwo squarely blamed the hotel's housekeeping personnel, stating, "The cleaning people stole the money. So they waited while we weren't in the room to clean and steal the money."
The Super Falcons have since left Casablanca for Rabat, where they are scheduled to begin their Group C campaign against tournament debutants Malawi on Tuesday at the Al Madina Stadium. Despite the off-field distraction, the defending champions have continued their build-up to the tournament, rounding off their preparations with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania in a friendly on Thursday, with Okoronkwo scoring the winning goal. Neither the Nigeria Football Federation nor the Marriott Hotel Casablanca had issued an official statement on the incident at the time of the suspect's confession, but the arrest and restitution offer some measure of justice for the affected players as they focus on chasing a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.
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