A self-acclaimed marabout, identified as Mr. Sinayogo, has been arrested in Bamako after allegedly defrauding football fans of millions of francs by promising a spiritual guarantee for the Mali national team’s success at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The arrest occurred on Saturday, January 10, 2026, just 24 hours after the “Eagles” of Mali were eliminated from the tournament following a 1–0 defeat to Senegal in the quarter-finals.
Details of the Alleged Scam
Authorities from the cybercrime division took Sinayogo into custody following reports that he had collected more than $22$ million CFA francs ($\sim€33,500$) from supporters.
- The Claim: Sinayogo reportedly convinced fans that his spiritual powers would ensure Mali’s victory and ultimate progression to the AFCON final.
- The Suspect: According to associates and local social media creators, Sinayogo was previously known as a political activist who “proclaimed himself a marabout overnight” to capitalize on the tournament’s fervor.
- The Detention: Witnesses confirmed he is being held in the capital. Sources noted that an earlier arrest would have been difficult to execute while Mali was still competing due to the high emotional stakes of the tournament.
The Catalyst: Mali 0–1 Senegal
Mali’s tournament hopes were dashed on Friday evening in Tangier, Morocco. Despite a spirited performance, the match was defined by disciplinary issues and a critical goalkeeping error.
- The Decisive Goal: Recalled forward Iliman Ndiaye scored the only goal of the match in the first half following an uncharacteristic mistake by Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
- The Red Card: Mali’s chances of a comeback were severely compromised in first-half stoppage time when captain Yves Bissouma received a second yellow card for a foul on Sadio Mane, leaving his team to play the entire second half with 10 men.
- Defensive Heroics: Despite the error for the goal, Diarra produced several world-class saves later in the match, while Senegal’s Krepin Diatta executed a goal-saving tackle on Lassine Sinayoko to maintain the lead.
Reactions from the Sidelines
Senegal, the 2022 champions, now progress to the semi-finals where they will face either Egypt or Ivory Coast.
Iliman Ndiaye (Player of the Match): “I am happy to have won the award, but the most important thing is we have progressed… We are constantly improving.”
Tom Saintfiet (Mali Coach): “It was a difficult match for us because we had to play it with 10 men. I am proud of the players for what they did throughout the AFCON.”
Pape Thiaw (Senegal Coach): “It was not an easy match against a talented Mali team. Had we been more clinical, we could have scored more.”
The arrest of Mr. Sinayogo serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of fans during major sporting events. Mali’s cybercrime division is expected to continue its investigation into the extent of the fraud as more victims come forward following the team’s exit.
Source: Africa Publicity
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