Police arrest native doctor who collected €33k after promising Mali AFCON victory

A native doctor (marabout), who collected large sums from hopeful fans by promising Mali’s triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), has been arrested for fraud after the team’s exit from the tournament.

Mali’s national football team was eliminated on Friday, losing 1-0 to Senegal in the quarter-finals. The defeat sparked anger among some supporters, who had pinned their hopes on the marabout’s assurances of victory.

The man, identified only as Mr Sinayogo, reportedly collected more than 33,500 euros, equivalent to over 22 million CFA francs, in donations from people seeking luck for the team, according to an associate.

Following the loss, a crowd of enraged individuals reportedly gathered outside Sinayogo’s residence, prompting police intervention. Authorities removed him from the scene to prevent further unrest.

On Saturday, police arrested Sinayogo in the Malian capital, Bamako, charging him with “fraud.” He is now held at the cybercrime division, according to videographers who visited him.

“Charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali,” an official from the cybercrime division told AFP. The official added that arresting the man during the tournament would have been challenging “in the heat of the Africa Cup of Nations,” when emotions were running high among fans.

Mr Sinayogo, previously known for political activism, reportedly reinvented himself as a marabout overnight, quickly amassing wealth through his claims, according to a social media content creator familiar with him.

Authorities have not yet disclosed whether further investigations will pursue others who may have assisted in the fraudulent activities.