Mali witch doctor’s Afcon forecast turns into a bust
The Africa Cup of Nations heads into a decisive final group round, with qualification scenarios tightening and several teams still fighting for places in the knockout stages.
Image: AFP
A Malian witch doctor was arrested after making nearly $39 000 (R639 000) for promising that the west African country would win the Africa Cup of Nations.
The man, a former political activist, who "made a fortune" after proclaiming himself a marabout (faith healer) overnight, was saved by the police when an angry mob turned up at his house after The Eagles were beaten 1-0 in the quarter finals by neighbours Senegal.
He was later held for fraud by the cybercrime division in the capital, Bamako.
Mali reached the quarter-final but was eliminated by Senegal, who won 1–0 to advance to the semi-finals.
Belief in faith healers and fortune tellers is common across the region but "charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali", a division official told AFP.