Monkeys: Super Falcons Suffer Racist Attack Ahead of WAFCON Opener

• Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been subjected to racist attack on social media ahead of the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco, with players targeted by monkey emojis and other racist comments following the hotel theft controversy involving the team.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have come under a wave of racist abuse on social media ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, with several players targeted by accounts posting monkey emojis, banana emojis and other racist imagery.

The online attacks come as the African champions prepare to begin their campaign in Morocco after completing their training camp and relocating to Rabat for their Group C opener against Malawi.

The abuse reportedly intensified after Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo revealed that cash was stolen from players’ rooms at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca, where the team had initially camped.

Okoronkwo disclosed that she lost about $700, while captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, Halimatu Ayinde and Joy Omewa also allegedly had money stolen before the team moved to Rabat.

Following the allegations, several social media accounts believed to belong to Moroccan users flooded Okoronkwo’s Instagram page with abusive comments containing monkey emojis, gorilla images and other symbols widely recognised as racist attacks against Black people.

The development came despite reports that Moroccan authorities had arrested a suspect in connection with the hotel theft.

According to Nigerian journalist and former Super Eagles media officer Colin Udoh, the suspect confessed to the crime and is expected to return the stolen money, while criminal proceedings continue.

The racist attacks were not limited to Okoronkwo, as other Super Falcons players also reportedly received similar abuse across different social media platforms.

The incident mirrors an earlier case involving Nigerian forward Rinsola Babajide, who revealed she received monkey and banana emojis in her Instagram messages after criticising a Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision involving Morocco.

Babajide later shared screenshots of the messages on social media, exposing the abuse.

Monkey emojis, banana emojis and similar imagery have repeatedly been identified by anti-racism organisations as coded racist attacks frequently directed at Black footballers around the world.

Despite the online abuse, the Super Falcons remain focused on their quest for a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.