A funny twist has been introduced to the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament after a self-proclaimed marabout, or traditional folk healer, who collected 33,500 euros by promising victory for Mali was arrested for fraud after the team lost.

Mali’s national team was eliminated on Friday in the quarter finals by Senegal 1-0.

The man, identified only as Mr Sinayogo, collected more than 22 million CFA francs in donations, according to an associate.

Following Mali’s defeat, an angry mob showed up at his home before police intervened and arrested him.

Sinayogo was arrested in the Malian capital Bamako on Saturday for “fraud” and was being held at the  cybercrime division, according to two videographers who visited him.

“Charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali”, an official from the division told AFP.

However, arresting the man while the national team was still competing would have been difficult “in the heat of the Africa Cup of Nations,” he added.

The man, formerly known as a political activist, “proclaimed himself a marabout overnight and made a fortune”, a social media content creator close to him said.

Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, has dismissed his altercation with teammate Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s win over Mozambique at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saying the incident is just about “football” and was nothing personal. 

“No, I have not seen him [Osimhen] yet. Nothing happened. It was just a discussion on the pitch. That is it,” the Atalanta man, who scored twice, as the Super Eagles crushed the Mambas 4-0, said after the match.

“It’s just football. It’s always football. He (Victor Osimhen) is my brother,” Lookman, winner of the African Player of the Year prize in 2024, told reporters in Fez.

The Galatasaray man and Lookman had exchanged words during the Round of 16 match on Monday.

The three-time African champions were already 3-0 up, but Osimhen was furious with Lookman for not passing the ball to him despite being in a better position to score.

“It is a team game,” Osimhen was heard saying while pointing to his Lookman who had given him an assist in the match.

Osimhen was later subsituted and stormed into the tunnel immediately after the final whistle, raising concerns over his relationship with other players.

The incident has continued to spark debate about his relationship with his teammates with many fans faulting the 27-year-old’s reaction in the Mozambique match.

Osimhen scored twice, Lookman got one just as Akor Adams as the Super Eagles feasted on the Mambas, recording the biggest win so far at the 2025 AFCON.

Lookman deservedly got the man of the match award, his second in the competition.

He is already leading the pack for the most goals and assists in the tournament. The winger has three goals and four assists in three matches so far.

Nigeria’s next clash at the 2025 AFCON will be against either Algeria or DR Congo. Both sides are meeting on Tuesday for a ticket to the quarter-finals.

The Super Eagles were runners up in the last AFCON, losing to hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the final.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

The team thrashed Mambas of Mozambique 4-0 in the second round of the competition on Monday.

Goals from Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adam sealed victory for Nigeria.

Nigeria finished top of Group C, winning all their games, while Mozambique squeezed into the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams.

Despite Nigeria’s apparent advantage, Alfons Amade, a defender for Mambas of Mozambique, warned that the magic of AFCON often produces surprises.

However, the shock was the mismatch in class and the ease with which Nigeria overran the Mambas.

Eric Chelle, the Eagles’ head coach, reverted to a familiar starting line-up after his heavy squad rotation for the first game.

The productive partnership of Victor Osimhen, Akor Adam and Ademola Lookman got another victim, and the result was devastating.

Osimhen had the ball in the net within the first two minutes but was ruled out for offside. Then Iwobi had his shot saved.

But a few minutes later, Lookman’s shot was beyond saving. Adam’s cutback found the Atalanta winger at the centre of the area, and the finish was efficient.

Five minutes later, the combination of the three Eagles attackers ripped through Mozambique’s defence again. Lookman crossed the ball into the area and aimed at Adam, but the striker missed it and, with an innocent deflection, redirected the ball into the path of Osimhen, who did the rest.

In the second half, Lookman then provided another goal for Osimhen and the striker tapped in from close range.

In between this period of glorious football, a nasty episode left a sour taste. Osimhen lost his head at Lookman for reasons yet to be identified. He required teammates’ help to calm the situation. Still boiling, the Galatasaray striker signalled to the bench to be subbed off and was obliged.

Away from that, Adam wrapped the emphatic victory up with a powerful shot for the fourth goal.