Super Falcons football star Esther Okoronkwo has denied a fake quote being shared online, just days after she and her teammates met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Okoronkwo, who played a key role in Nigeria’s recent WAFCON win, was given a national honour by President Tinubu along with a $100,000 cash prize and a 3-bedroom apartment. The whole team was celebrated for their historic 10th WAFCON title.
Soon after the celebration, a quote started going viral on social media, claiming Okoronkwo had praised President Tinubu and changed her opinion of him after meeting him. The fake message was posted by a verified Instagram page, @renewedhope2027. The post said Okoronkwo had said people misunderstood the President, and that she “fell in love with him” after seeing how kind and funny he was.
But Okoronkwo quickly responded on her Snapchat, posting a screenshot of the message with the caption: “Abeg, when did I talk this one?” followed by an “SMH” (shaking my head) emoji.
The quote was completely made up, and Okoronkwo made it clear she never said anything like that.
Okoronkwo was one of the top players in the tournament, scoring two goals and making six assists. She also won Woman of the Match in both the semi-final and final matches. Fans even voted her the Player of the Tournament.
This situation highlights how quickly false information can spread online—especially when it involves celebrities and politics.