DR Congo superfan Mboladinga ‘Lumumba Vea’ leaves AFCON as a hero

Heartbroken aft his team’s nonaccomplishment to Algeria, Mboladinga won implicit fans and near a lasting interaction connected the tournament.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo person exited the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 aft a heartbreaking extra-time loss to Algeria, but their astir celebrated protagonist has made a lasting interaction connected shot fans and players.

Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who became an instant instrumentality favourite and societal media prima for his unsocial tribute to his nation’s hero Patrice Lumumba, bid farewell to AFCON aft a gathering with the Algerian squad astatine their edifice connected Wednesday.

Dressed sharply successful bright-coloured suits, Mboladinga stood retired among the thousands of DR Congo fans by lasting inactive with his close limb raised during each of his team’s games astatine the tournament.

“The instrumentality who went viral for lasting motionless done the afloat lucifer becomes an AFCON awesome of pride, memory, and resilience,” a instrumentality wrote successful a tribute connected X.

At the opening of each match, Mboladinga would measurement connected his pedestal and clasp the pose, emulating a memorial statue of Lumumba successful Kinshasa, DR Congo.

But erstwhile his squad were knocked retired of the tourney by Algeria with a 119th-minute extremity from Adil Boulbina, helium was near devastated.

Nicknamed Lumumba Vea by Congolese supporters, Mboladinga took disconnected his glasses, wiped distant his tears and, successful his last act, fell backmost into the assemblage astatine the extremity of his team’s last-16 tie.

Mboladinga stands among DR Congo fans during his team’s lucifer against Algeria successful Rabat, Morocco [Gabriel Bouys/AFP]

To adhd insult to injury, Mboladinga was seemingly mocked by Algerian subordinate Mohamed Amoura, who ran to the Congolese end, mimicked the fan’s airs and fell to the crushed successful celebration.

Amoura’s motion was wide criticised connected societal media, with fans calling for him to apologise to Mboladinga and the Congolese nation.

“He [Mboladinga] is bringing visibility to a historical fig who fought for Congo’s independency and stood successful solidarity with the Algerian gyration against occupation,” wrote sports writer Leyla Hamed.

The Algerian guardant aboriginal posted an apology connected societal media, saying helium wasn’t alert of the meaning and past of the motion of the DR Congo fan.

“I simply wanted to tease, successful a good-natured way, without immoderate sick intent,” helium wrote.

“I respect Congo and its team.”

In bid to marque further amends, the Algerian Football Association invited Mboladinga to the team’s edifice connected Wednesday. He met with the players and was fixed a personalised Algerian squad garment with Lumumba emblazoned connected the back.

DR Congo are ranked 56th successful FIFA’s satellite rankings and person a changeable astatine qualifying for the World Cup 2026 by booking a spot successful the inter-confederation playoff last connected March 31.