Days before their opening match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), cash belonging to some players of Nigeria’s Super Falcons was stolen at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco.

Announcing the theft in a series of posts on her Snapchat, midfielder Esther Okoronkwo said that over $1,000 was stolen from their hotel rooms on the final day of their training camp while they were away, putting their safety at risk.

While Okoronkwo was said to have lost $700, captain Rasheedat Ajibade lost $200, defender Osinachi Ohale lost $100, midfielder Halima Ayinde lost $100, and Joy Omewa also lost $120, bringing the total to $1,220.

The incident, which happened shortly before they relocated to Rabat for their Group C matches, was reported to the hotel management, who were said to be unsurprised by the development, leading the team to believe it was a normal occurrence at the hotel.

According to Okoronkwo, the hotel officials were disrespectful, failed to properly address the matter, and angry that they made complaints about the incident, prompting the players to warn members of the public against patronising the facility.

However, a former Super Eagles media officer, Colin Udoh, on Sunday, disclosed that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the theft and had made confessional statements to the authorities, after which prosecution would commence.

Mr Udoh said, “I have been informed that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the theft at the Super Falcons’ Marriott Hotel in Casablanca and has confessed. Full restitution will be made to the players while the law takes its course.”

The arrest and confession of the suspect did not stop Okoronkwo’s complaints from attracting backlash online, with her Instagram account receiving replies filled with racist messages and monkey emojis from several users.

The Nigeria Football Federation and Canadian club, AFC Toronto, however, condemned the racist attacks directed at her, insisting that racism has no place in football.

Checks by Peoples Gazette on Tripadvisor revealed that, aside from many good reviews, a few of the hotel’s customers lamented their unpleasant encounters at the facility, which also included alleged theft and racism by hotel staff.

Chidiogo C, who was at the hotel in March 2026, stated in July that, “Put an end to racist business: The staff are racist and don’t own up when they are wrong. I pray and wish for the downfall of this hotel,” while Aquila C, who visited in June for business, also said, “Terrible experience, racist employees, room service stole my money, management threatened me… All in all, terrible place to be.”

Another customer with the username Scenicroute alleged that the facility’s elevator was faulty, recalling that when he and his parents entered it, it fell from the seventh floor to the ground, injuring his parents.

Part of his lengthy comment read, “Around 5pm local time, my elderly parents and I were taking the elevator from the high floor to the ground floor. Keep in mind there are no cameras or handrails in ANY of the elevators (which is a safety issue, imagine an elderly person doesn’t have a handrail to hold on to, neither does a pregnant woman).

“As we got in the elevator and I pressed G for ground, the elevator DROPPED 5-7 floors. Yes, you read that right. THE ELEVATOR DROPPED 5-7 floors slamming on the ground floor. My parents fell to the ground, and I did my best to help immediately. Once the elevator door opened, we screamed repeatedly for help.

“This wasn’t just a physically traumatic experience but also an emotionally draining one. The pain and screaming I watched my parents go through due to the elevator falling is something I won’t easily forget. The elevator was faulty. Marriott didn’t repair it. Marriott Casablanca took the liberty to operate faulty elevators fully knowing the risk.”

The five-star hotel, which opened in 1989 as the Sheraton Casablanca Hotel and Towers under Sheraton, then a part of ITT Corporation, is operated by Marriott International under its flagship Marriott brand.

The 16-storey facility is located in the Old Medina of Casablanca, 40 minutes away from the international airport and a 10-minute walk from Casa Port fast train station.

In 2001, the edifice had over 300 rooms, but following the expansion of some of the rooms, the facility now has 286 rooms, with standard rooms measuring around 335 square feet, a total event space of 9,580 square feet and its largest meeting room measuring 5,382 square feet.

The building has the BaB Restaurant, an international and Moroccan all-day dining restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a coffee shop, along with event facilities including 18 sophisticated meeting rooms.

According to Booking.com, a room, depending on the size chosen by the customer, costs between N205,330 and N665,895 per night. The options customers can choose from include Deluxe King and Twin rooms with city views, which have four packages costing between N205,330 and N300,019; Superior Twin Room with city view, which has three packages ranging between N224,014 and N319,776; and Superior King Room with city view, with four packages also costing between N224,014 and N319,776.

Others include Club King Room with city view, with four packages costing between N267,529 and N373,194; Club Twin Room with city view, with four packages also costing between N267,529 and N373,194; Junior King Suite with club lounge access, with eight packages costing between N342,168 and N519,545; Large Family Room with two connecting rooms on a high floor, with four packages costing between N367,047 and N490,275; and One-Bedroom Executive Suite with M Club lounge access, with four packages priced between N548,815 and N665,895.

The most recent event hosted at the facility was a high-profile Creative and Media Soirée on June 23, ahead of the 10th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), an annual event celebrating rising stars and recognising musical excellence across the continent.

The event was attended by AFRIMA President Mike Dada, Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, as well as Moroccan artists such as Ahmed Soultan, rapper Khtek, singer Inkonnu, hip-hop artists Young Loun & Real Khalid, resident event DJ Soufiane, among others.