Self-Styled Spiritualist Arrested After Collecting Donations to Secure Mali AFCON Title, Following Elimination by Senegal

A Malian man who claimed he could spiritually guarantee Mali’s triumph at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been arrested for fraud after the national team was knocked out of the tournament by Senegal.

The suspect, widely known on social media as Mr. Sinayogo, presented himself as a marabout with special spiritual powers. In the buildup to the tournament, he appealed to football fans for financial support, promising that Mali’s Eagles would lift the AFCON trophy if donations were made.

According to one of his associates, Mr. Sinayogo raised more than 22 million CFA francs (about €33,500) from supporters who believed in his claims.

Mali’s hopes ended on Friday after a 1–0 defeat to Senegal in the quarterfinals. Shortly after the loss, angry supporters reportedly gathered at the suspect’s residence, accusing him of deceiving the public. Videos circulating online showed a tense situation before police arrived to restore order.

Security operatives later escorted Mr. Sinayogo away from the scene. He was formally arrested on Saturday and taken into custody at the cybercrime unit.

Two videographers who previously worked with him confirmed the arrest, saying they visited him after he was detained. “He is currently being held by the cybercrime unit,” one of them said. “The authorities are treating the case as fraud.”

An official from the cybercrime unit said the law is clear on such matters. “Charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali,” the official stated. He added that arresting the suspect earlier would have been difficult. “During the AFCON, emotions run high. Acting while the team was still in the competition could have caused serious unrest.”

Those familiar with Mr. Sinayogo say his rise was sudden. A social media content creator close to him explained that he was previously known as a political activist. “He proclaimed himself a marabout almost overnight and made a fortune from it,” the content creator said.