Man Who Promised Africa Cup Trophy Arrested After Mali’s AFCON Exit
A self-styled prophet who claimed he could deliver Africa Cup of Nations glory to Mali has been arrested after the team’s tournament exit brought his promises crashing down.
Malian police confirmed the arrest of a man identified as Mr Sinayogo, a self-proclaimed marabout who had built a sizable following on social media by predicting — and allegedly influencing — Mali national football team’s path to continental success. In exchange for donations, he assured supporters that the Eagles would lift the AFCON trophy.
According to local sources cited by Agence France-Presse, Sinayogo is believed to have collected more than 22 million CFA francs (approximately $39,000) from fans convinced by his claims.
His assurances unravelled on Friday night when Mali were eliminated following a 1–0 quarter-final defeat to Senegal national football team. The loss sparked anger among supporters, with an agitated crowd reportedly gathering outside Sinayogo’s home in Bamako. Police were forced to intervene and escort him away for his own safety.
A senior security official told AFP that charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali, adding that taking action earlier would have been difficult while the national team remained in the competition due to the intense emotions surrounding AFCON.
Sinayogo was arrested on Saturday and placed in custody, with the country’s cybercrime unit reportedly handling the case. He is expected to face charges related to fraud, as authorities investigate the full scale of the donations he received.