iDeemlawfulA self-styled native healer who claimed he could secure Africa Cup of Nations success for Mali after receiving €33,500 has been arrested for fraud following the team’s exit from the competition.
The individual, identified as Mr Sinayogo, was detained in Bamako on Saturday after Mali were eliminated from AFCON 2025 by Senegal, suffering a 1–0 defeat in Friday’s quarter-final clash.
Reports state that Sinayogo, who described himself as a marabout (traditional healer), raised over 22 million CFA francs in donations after assuring supporters he could spiritually ensure Mali’s triumph at the tournament.
After the loss, a reportedly furious crowd gathered at his home, prompting police intervention to escort him away for his safety. He was later placed under arrest and transferred to the cybercrime division, where he remains in custody on fraud-related allegations.
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Two videographers who had visited him confirmed the arrest, while a cybercrime unit official told AFP that “charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali.”
The official noted that acting sooner would have been difficult while the national team was still in the competition. “It would have been difficult to arrest him in the heat of the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said.
Further information revealed that Sinayogo was previously known as a political activist before presenting himself as a spiritual figure during the tournament.
“He proclaimed himself a marabout overnight and made a fortune,” a social media content creator familiar with him said.
Mali’s AFCON elimination abruptly ended the promises made by the self-proclaimed healer, as authorities now move to curb what they described as the deliberate exploitation of football supporters swept up in tournament excitement.