He missed the opener, forced into a 21-day Ebola quarantine at home while his team held Portugal to a stunning 1-1 draw. But on Tuesday, Michel Kuka Mboladinga finally took his place in the stands at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, a silent monument among the noise.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s most iconic fan had been stranded as outbreaks of Ebola in the country – which have now infected more than 1,000 people and claimed 254 lives – triggered travel restrictions for Congolese travellers. While his teammates fought to a famous result, Mboladinga followed the game remotely. The Congolese Football Federation, recognising his popularity with the players, sponsored his travel once his isolation ended.
“Belated World Cup debut for DR Congo fan Michel Kuka Mboladinga, who stands still as a tribute to Patrice Lumumba.”
When he appeared for the clash with Colombia, the cameras found him quickly. Dressed in a jacket and tie, he stood completely still, right arm raised, in tribute to Patrice Lumumba, the country’s first prime minister who was assassinated by firing squad in 1961. The pose mirrors a statue of Lumumba in the capital Kinshasa. His nickname, “Lumumba Vea”, and his unwavering stance – a “sign of peace” for his homeland – have made him a viral sensation since he began this ritual at games in 2013.
Mboladinga rose to prominence at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco in 2025, where cameras were captivated by his stoic support. But that tournament also brought controversy: after the Algerian forward Mohamed Amoura mocked him when Algeria knocked DR Congo out, the Algerian football federation apologised to Mboladinga amid a social media backlash.
In Guadalajara, he smiled among fellow fans before kick-off, then resumed his usual position for the match. As a raucous fanbase rallied around him, he silently supported his nation through a goalless first half. For a few moments, the World Cup had a statue in the stands.