By Tim Binnall
A witch doctor in the West African nation of Mali found himself in trouble with the law after he convinced fans of the country's national football team to hand over $40,000 for a victory that never came to fruition. The curious case reportedly began earlier this month at the start of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, when self-proclaimed prophet Karamogo Sinayoko asserted that God had told him that Mali would be victorious in the first round. After the team pulled off a miraculous last-second win over Tunisia, fans were sold on the shaman's alleged supernatural gift, which he assured them could be put to use in the next game ... for a price.
When Mali played in the next round a few days later, supporters flocked to Sinayoko's home with bags of cash to help provide some otherworldly aid to the team. All told, Sinayoko collected a staggering $40,000 from the scheme, which soon thereafter went up in smoke with a crushing defeat for the national team. As one might imagine, heartbroken fans who provided funds to the witch doctor were apoplectic over the result, and around 100 outraged supporters stormed his residence, hurling rocks and insults in the direction of the mystic, who was subsequently arrested for fraud. In a statement lamenting the unfortunate turn of events, Sinayoko blamed a higher power for Mali's elimination, declaring, "I am not God, I did my part, and God chose otherwise."