- A fake priest who promised Mali they would win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco has been taken into custody
- The priest collected millions of shillings from fans, promising that the Eagles would finally win their first-ever AFCON title
- Mali were knocked out in the quarter-finals after losing to Senegal thanks to an Iliman Ndiaye first-half strike
A self-proclaimed native healer who promised Mali they would win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been arrested.
Source: UGC
Mali were eliminated from AFCON 2025 after they lost to Senegal 1-0 at the quarter-final stage.
The Eagles put on a spirited fight after they were reduced to 10 men just before the break, after Yves Bissouma was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Tom Saintfiet’s side fought on, but Iliman Ndiaye’s strike in the first half was the difference maker between the two sides.
Fake priest arrested in Mali after AFCON 2025 promise
Back home in the nation’s capital of Bamako, angry crowds gathered at the home of the native healer identified as Karamogo Sinayogo before the police intervened.
Sinayogo had collected over 33,500 euros (KSh 5 million) from fans, promising to deliver the AFCON title to Mali.
The authorities arrested him on charges of fraud.
“Charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali. However, arresting the man while the national team was still competing would have been difficult “in the heat of the Africa Cup of Nations,” said a source to AFP via L’Equipe.
Mali at AFCON 2025
Mali exited AFCON 2025 without winning a single game in regulation time.
They finished second in Group A after drawing all their games against Zambia, Morocco and Comoros, setting up a Round of 16 game against Tunisia.
Saintfiet’s men also played with 10 men for over 50 minutes after Woyo Coulibaly was sent off. Despite this, they snatched a stoppage-time equaliser to force the game into extra time and subsequent penalties, where their goalkeeper Djigui Diarra came up grand.
Source: Twitter
They weren’t as lucky in the quarter-finals as the Teranga Lions kept them at bay. Of all the teams that qualified for this year’s quarter-finals, only Mali haven’t won an AFCON title before.
“It was an interesting and difficult match for us because we had to play large parts of the game with ten men. But that doesn’t take away the fact that my players played gallantly and played very well,” said Saintfiet after the elimination via CAF Online.
I am proud of them for the performance they put up, not just in today’s match but throughout the competition. We have shown the world what we are made of. Together with my staff, we will analyse our matches and see what we can do better in future.”
Mane’s past comments on Salah ahead of semi-final
Elsewhere, Sadio Mane’s past comments on Mohamed Salah have resurfaced ahead of their reunion at the AFCON 2025 semi-finals.
The two were teammates at Liverpool, but they weren’t always the best of friends.
Senegal will face Egypt for a chance in the final on January 14.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
