A self-acclaimed marabout, who allegedly collected about €33,500 (over 22 million CFA francs) from supporters after promising to secure Mali’s victory at the Africa Cup of Nations, has been arrested for fraud following the country’s exit from the tournament.
The suspect, identified as Sinayogo, was taken into custody in Bamako on Saturday, a day after Mali were eliminated from the competition following a 1–0 defeat to Senegal in the quarter-finals.
Anger reportedly erupted among fans shortly after the loss, with several contributors accusing the marabout of deception.
An associate of the suspect disclosed that Sinayogo had received donations running into millions of CFA francs from supporters who believed his spiritual assurances would guarantee success for the Malian team.
The situation escalated when an enraged crowd stormed his residence, forcing security operatives to intervene. Police reportedly evacuated him from the area to prevent a violent confrontation.
Sinayogo is currently being held by Mali’s cybercrime division on allegations of fraud. Two videographers who visited him confirmed his detention.
An official of the division told AFP that “charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali,” explaining that authorities had found it difficult to intervene earlier due to the charged atmosphere surrounding the AFCON competition.
Further findings revealed that the suspect was previously known as a political activist before rebranding himself as a marabout shortly before the tournament.
A social media content creator familiar with him alleged that Sinayogo “declared himself a marabout overnight and made a fortune,” exploiting public belief and national optimism tied to Mali’s AFCON campaign.
The arrest has sparked fresh debate in Mali over the exploitation of faith and superstition in sports, as authorities warned the public against falling victim to fraudulent spiritual claims, particularly during emotionally charged national events.
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