"The Democratic Republic of the Congo have exited the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 after a heartbreaking extra-time loss to Algeria, but their most famous supporter has made a lasting impact on football fans and players. Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who became an instant fan favourite and social media star for his unique tribute to his nation's hero Patrice Lumumba, bid farewell to AFCON after a meeting with the Algerian team at their hotel on Wednesday."
"Dressed sharply in bright-coloured suits, Mboladinga stood out among the thousands of DR Congo fans by standing still with his right arm raised during all of his team's games at the tournament. The fan who went viral for standing motionless through the full match becomes an AFCON symbol of pride, memory, and resilience, a fan wrote in a tribute on X."
"But when his team were knocked out of the tournament by Algeria with a 119th-minute goal from Adil Boulbina, he was left devastated. Nicknamed Lumumba Vea by Congolese supporters, Mboladinga took off his glasses, wiped away his tears and, in his final act, fell back into the crowd at the end of his team's last-16 tie. Mboladinga stands among DR Congo fans during his team's match against Algeria in Rabat, Morocco [Gabriel Bouys/AFP]"
The Democratic Republic of the Congo exited the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 after a 119th-minute extra-time goal by Adil Boulbina gave Algeria victory. Michel Nkuka Mboladinga became an instant fan favourite and social media star by emulating a memorial statue of Patrice Lumumba: stepping onto a pedestal, standing motionless with his right arm raised while dressed in bright-coloured suits for every match. Nicknamed Lumumba Vea, he removed his glasses, wiped away tears and fell back into the crowd after the last-16 defeat. Algerian player Mohamed Amoura mimicked his pose in celebration, a gesture widely criticised on social media. Mboladinga’s tribute highlighted Lumumba’s historical visibility.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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