DR Congo’s 90-minute ‘standing superfan’ Michel Nkuka Mboladinga finally gets his chance at the FIFA World Cup | Football News:

NEW DELHI: One of DR Congo’s most famous football supporters has finally got his chance to FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, better known as Lumumba Vea, attended DR Congo’s match against Colombia after losing the team’s opening game against Portugal due to Ebola-related quarantine requirements. The supporter became a global sensation during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he spent the entire matches perfectly standing like a statue. Dressed in colorful suits and holding one arm in the air, he quickly caught the attention of television cameras and football fans around the world.Before the Colombia match at Estadio Akron, Mboladinga arrived early and took over the DR Congo bench. Dressed in a bright red jacket and tie, yellow shirt and blue trousers, he once again transformed himself into a “living statue”, standing motionless on a pedestal with his right arm raised.Although he did not speak to reporters, he smiled and nodded when asked if he was happy to finally participate in the World Cup.His journey to the tournament was not straightforward. Earlier this year, Mboladinga was also unable to play in DR Congo’s World Cup playoff against Jamaica because he did not get a visa in time. He traveled to Kenya and Ethiopia in an attempt to obtain the necessary documents, but was unable to make it to the game.His appearance is a tribute to Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the DR Congo and one of the most important figures in the country’s history.

Lumumba played a key role in ending Belgian colonial rule in the 1960s and became the leader of the newly independent nation. However, he was killed less than a year ago during political unrest linked to a separatist movement in the Katanga region.Mboladinga’s raised arm, formal dress and posture were all inspired by monuments and images of Lumumba, which is why he is widely known as Lumumba Vea.His incredible support has made him one of the most recognizable fans in international football and a symbol of DR Congo’s love for the game.After missing the opening game against Portugal, many supporters were happy to finally see the famous “statue fan” take his place in the stands at the World Cup.