Moroccan police have arrested a hotel employee in Casablanca on suspicion of stealing money from players representing an African national team competing at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The suspect was detained by officers from the judicial police unit in Casablanca’s Anfa district after several players reported that money had gone missing from their hotel rooms during the tournament.
Cash recovered during investigation
According to police, investigators identified the suspect through field inquiries and established that he worked at the hotel where the team was staying.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of 10,000 Moroccan dirhams, which investigators believe corresponds to the total amount allegedly stolen.
Authorities said the suspect had converted the money from U.S. dollars into Moroccan currency before his arrest.
Investigation ongoing
The hotel employee remains in police custody while a judicial investigation, supervised by the competent public prosecutor’s office, continues.
Investigators are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged thefts and determine whether any criminal offences were committed.
Team not officially identified
Moroccan police have not disclosed the identity of either the hotel or the national team involved.
However, Nigerian media previously reported that members of the Super Falcons had complained that cash had disappeared from their hotel rooms while staying in Casablanca during the tournament.
Nigeria forward Esther Okoronkwo alleged on social media that $700 had been taken from her wallet, while other players also reportedly discovered money missing from their rooms.
The team’s media officer later confirmed that the matter had been reported to Moroccan authorities, who subsequently launched an investigation.
Despite those reports, the official police statement did not confirm whether the arrest is connected to the complaints involving the Nigerian squad, meaning the identity of the affected team remains officially undisclosed.
Tournament continues
The incident comes as Morocco hosts the expanded 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from July 26 to August 16.
The arrested hotel employee remains a suspect and has not been convicted of any offence. Prosecutors will determine the next legal steps after reviewing the findings of the ongoing investigation.
