DR Congo fan Michel Mboladinga stages motionless Lumumba tribute at World Cup match

Michel Kuka Mboladinga, a 49‑year‑old supporter of the Democratic Republic of the Congo known as “Lumumba Vea”, stood perfectly still behind the DR Congo bench for the entire 90 minutes of the group‑stage match against Colombia in Zapopan. Dressed in the colours of the Congolese flag with his right arm raised, he recreated the pose of the Patrice Lumumba statue in Kinshasa as a tribute to the country’s first prime minister.

Mboladinga, who missed the opening match after being placed under Ebola‑related quarantine, said the performance was meant to give his team emotional endurance. The fan has been performing the pose at international tournaments since 2013 and was formally added to the DR Congo delegation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his costs covered by the state. The match ended in a 1‑0 loss for DR Congo, but the fan’s silent stunt attracted widespread media attention and sparked social‑media discussion about African representation at the tournament.