Karamogo Sinayoko, a self-proclaimed prophet, was arrested after the Mali national team lost 0-1 in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament. Sinayoko had previously promised to secure a championship title for the team. According to allegations, he received an amount equivalent to 1 billion dong from national team fans, claiming he could guarantee victory with his supernatural abilities.

On 3/1, the night of Mali's round of 16 match against Tunisia, fans brought bundles of West African francs in nylon bags to Sinayoko's home in Bamako, handing them directly to him. During that game, the Mali team had a player sent off and trailed 1-0 for much of the match. However, they dramatically equalized in the 90th minute and secured a win on penalties. This unexpected victory convinced many spectators that Karamogo's extraordinary powers were real.

Mali's victory over Tunisia convinced fans that fortune teller Karamogo Sinayoko possessed supernatural powers. *Photo: Telegraph*

"The whole neighborhood came to my house to congratulate me, people from all over the city visited me", Karamogo recounted. He then pledged to deliver another victory in the quarterfinals, reportedly swearing on the Quran to guarantee success. However, Mali lost 0-1 to Senegal on 9/1 and were eliminated from the tournament.

When the final whistle blew, an angry crowd of about 100 fans was filmed throwing stones at Sinayoko’s house. Police, called to the scene, accused him of fraud and executed an arrest warrant. Reports indicate he is currently under investigation for fraud.

In a statement after his arrest, Sinayoko said: "When I completed my task and we defeated Tunisia, the whole neighborhood came to my house to celebrate. Now, after the defeat to Senegal, I am being attacked and my property is being vandalized. I did my part, but God chose another path".

The connection between superstitious practices and African football is widely reported. Good luck rituals can include sprinkling salt in front of the team bus, walking backwards onto the field, and camping in a cemetery the night before a match.

This phenomenon extends to coaches as well. When Nigeria lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a World Cup 2026 qualifier playoff match, Nigeria national team head coach Eric Chelle attributed the defeat to "witchcraft". He stated: "During the penalty shootout, the guy from Congo performed witchcraft. It happened consistently. That's why I was a bit worried after he did that".

Hai Thu (According to Telegraph)