This DRC Football Fan Has Become An Icon For Posing As The Country’s Hero Leader At All Its AFCON Games
“I stay still to give strength to the team, to pass energy on to the players.”
A Congolese football super fan has become an icon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after posing in every DR Congo match as a statue of former Congolese prime minister Patrice Lumumba.
Lumumba played a key role in DR Congo’s independence from Belgium and is a symbol of African resistance.
He became the country’s first prime minister after its independence but was assassinated in 1961 after a few months in office.
53-year-old Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who is known as “Lumumba” for dressing up as the former leader, first drew attention for standing completely still during more than 90 minutes of DR Congo’s AFCON matches in Morocco.
Mboladinga didn’t cheer or wave his country's flag but stood completely motionless with one hand raised, imitating Lumumba.
“I stay still to give strength to the team, to pass energy on to the players,” Mboladinga told AP, adding, “[Lumumba] sacrificed his life to give us freedom. So he is a hero to us. Lumumba is a spirit to us, a role model for us.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 6, Mboladinga went to Rabat stadium in Morocco to support his country in its match against Algeria, holding the pose for nearly 120 minutes.
After extra time, Algeria defeated DR Congo 1-0, ending the country’s hopes to advance to the quarter finals.
In videos, Mboladinga was seen breaking character, wiping away tears in the stands. People from around the continent were moved to see him break into tears.
The match also sparked controversy when Algerian player Mohammed Amoura appeared to mock Mboladinga after scoring the winning goal.
Amoura had imitated Mboladinga’s motionless pose then fell to the ground like a falling statue.
The gesture was widely criticized online, and people called it disrespectful towards the independence leader.
Algeria's football federation later apologized to Mboladinga for Amoura’s actions, according to the BBC.
Mor On The DRC
Sofia Hou
Cherry Mohamed
