The Super Falcons’ preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations have taken a turn after forward Esther Okoronkwo alleged that cash was stolen from several players while the team camped in Morocco.
The allegation has raised concerns just days before Nigeria begins its campaign at the continental tournament.
According to Okoronkwo, the missing money disappeared while hotel cleaning staff were inside players’ rooms.
The Super Falcons are currently staying at a hotel in Casablanca, Morocco, ahead of their planned move to Rabat for their Group C fixtures at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Okoronkwo shared the claims through a series of posts on Snapchat, where she accused members of the hotel’s cleaning staff of stealing cash from players during routine housekeeping.
She wrote:
“The cleaning people stole the money. So they waited while we weren’t in the room to clean and steal the money.”
Furthermore, she urged teammates and supporters to avoid the hotel by leaving negative online reviews.
Initially, the forward claimed that $500 had been taken from her belongings. However, she later reviewed her calculations and updated the amount.
She posted:
“Guys I did my calculations wrong; they actually stole 700, not 500 USD.”
According to her account, other members of the Super Falcons squad were also affected.
She alleged that teammate Halimatu Ayinde lost $100 during the incident.
In addition, she claimed that Asisat Oshoala also had $100 missing from her room.
Another player, Joy Omewa, was reportedly said to have lost £120.
Okoronkwo further stated that another teammate also lost money, although the exact amount was not disclosed.
The striker explained that the players confronted hotel workers after discovering the missing cash.
However, she claimed they received no clear explanation from the staff.
She wrote:
“We started talking to them, and they don’t have answers. They also started being disrespectful.”
Moreover, Okoronkwo alleged that employees at the hotel’s reception desk showed little concern after the incident was reported.
According to her, the response from the front desk left the players disappointed.
She also warned future guests about her experience at the hotel, alleging that visitors could face similar problems.
Head coach Justine Madugu now has his complete 25-player squad available after Deborah Abiodun and Gift Monday joined the team’s training camp in Casablanca.
The Super Falcons remain focused on defending their continental title despite the off-field controversy.
Nigeria enters the competition as the defending champions and record 10-time winners of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Furthermore, the tournament offers teams the opportunity to compete for continental glory, World Cup qualification, and a record prize fund.
