A self-styled traditional healer who parlayed a guaranteed Africa Cup of Nations victory into a massive windfall has been taken into custody in Mali. The man, known as Mr. Sinayogo, was arrested for allegedly defrauding citizens of more than €33,500 (22 million CFA francs) after his mystical predictions failed to materialize on the pitch.
The arrest follows Mali’s heartbreaking 1-0 quarter-final loss to Senegal on Friday. As the final whistle blew, the national mood shifted from hope to hostility, leading an incensed crowd to descend upon the healer’s residence. Police were forced to intervene to extract him from the mob before transporting him to the capital’s cybercrime division.
According to those familiar with his sudden ascent, Sinayogo was not always a spiritual figure. A social media content creator close to the suspect noted that the man, formerly known as a political activist, “proclaimed himself a marabout overnight and made a fortune.”
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This newfound influence allowed him to amass significant donations from supporters eager to see the national team succeed. However, authorities suggest that his promises crossed the line into criminal deception.
The Malian legal system is now scrutinizing the “mystical” services rendered. Speaking on the grounds for the detention, an official from the cybercrime division told AFP: “Charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali.”
The official further explained that while the healer’s activities had been on their radar, the timing of the intervention was sensitive. Arresting him while the national team was still competing would have been difficult “in the heat of the Africa Cup of Nations,” he added.
Sinayogo remains in custody in Bamako as investigators look further into the financial collections and the nature of his “guarantees.”
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