DR Congo superfan Mboladinga “Lumumba Vea” leaves CAN as a hero | Football news

Heartbroken after his team’s defeat against Algeria, Mboladinga won over the fans and left a lasting impact on the tournament.

Democratic Republic of Congo crashed out of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after heartbreaking overtime loss in Algeria, but their most famous supporter has had a lasting impact on football fans and players.

Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who immediately became a fan favorite and social media star for his unique tribute to his country’s hero Patrice Lumumbabid farewell to the CAN after a meeting with the Algerian team at his hotel on Wednesday.

Dressed in brightly colored suits, Mboladinga stood out among the thousands of DRC supporters by standing still with his right arm raised during all of his team’s matches at the tournament.

“The fan who went viral for standing still for the entire match becomes a symbol of AFCON pride, memory and resilience,” one fan wrote in a tribute on X.

At the start of each match, Mboladinga stood on his pedestal and struck a pose, imitating a memorial statue of Lumumba in Kinshasa, DR Congo.

But when his team was knocked out of the tournament by Algeria thanks to a goal from Adil Boulbina in the 119th minute, he was devastated.

Nicknamed Lumumba Vea by Congolese fans, Mboladinga took off his glasses, wiped away his tears and, in his final act, fell back into the crowd after his team’s round of 16 match.

To add insult to injury, Mboladinga was apparently mocked by Algerian player Mohamed Amoura, who ran up to the Congolese end, imitated the fan’s pose and fell to the ground in celebration.

Amoura’s gesture was widely criticized on social media, with his fans asking him to apologize to Mboladinga and the Congolese nation.

“He [Mboladinga] brings visibility to a historical figure who fought for the independence of the Congo and showed solidarity with the Algerian revolution against the occupation,” wrote sports journalist Leyla Hamed.

The Algerian striker later apologized on social media, saying he was unaware of the meaning and history of the DR Congo supporter’s gesture.

“I just wanted to tease, in a good-natured way, without any bad intentions,” he wrote.

“I respect Congo and its team.”

In order to make amends, the Algerian Football Federation invited Mboladinga to the team hotel on Wednesday. He met the players and received a personalized Algerian team jersey with the Lumumba crest on the back.

DR Congo is ranked 56th in the FIFA world rankings and has a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup by booking a place in the inter-confederation qualifier final on March 31.