AFCON: Man claiming spiritual powers arrested over Mali title promise

A self-proclaimed marabout on social media was arrested for fraud after claiming he could secure Mali’s CAN 2025 victory.

In exchange for donations, the man, known only as Mr. Sinayogo, had promised victory for the Eagles at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, but the Malian team was eliminated on Friday in the quarterfinals of the competition by Senegal (1-0).

The man had collected more than 22 million CFA francs (€33,500), according to one of his associates.

The marabout was escorted away by police in front of an angry crowd.

Following the defeat, an angry crowd gathered at his home before the police intervened and escorted the marabout away.

Mr. Sinayogo was arrested on Saturday for fraud and placed in custody at the cybercrime unit, according to two videographers who worked for the marabout and visited him.

“Charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali,” an official from the cybercrime unit said. But arresting him while the team was still in the competition would have been difficult in the heat of the CAN, he added.

The man, initially known as a political activist, “proclaimed himself a marabout overnight and made a fortune,” explained a social media content creator close to him.