DR Congo’s 90-minute ‘standing superfan’ misses historic FIFA World Cup 2026 win after US visa refusal | Football News:
NEW DELHI: Democratic Republic of Congo’s most famous football fan Michel Kuka Mboladinga has missed his country’s important FIFA World Cup game against Uzbekistan after being denied a visa to the United States.Known to fans around the world as “Lumumba Vea”, Mboladinga has become one of the most recognizable football supporters in Africa due to his unique way of supporting the team. However, he was forced to miss Congo’s biggest World Cup match despite traveling to support the team earlier in the tournament.The reason for the visa refusal was not made public.The Congolese Ambassador in Washington, DC, Kapinga Yvette Ngandu told Reuters that she hopes that Mboladinga will still be able to join the team if DR Congo continues their journey to the World Cup.“I hope he brings his own brand of support to the team,” he said.
Why is he so famous?
Mboladinga became an international sensation during the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.Unlike other supporters who sing and cheer throughout the match, he was completely standing for the entire 90 minutes with one arm raised. His pose is a tribute to Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the DR Congo, who led the country to independence before being assassinated in 1961.He also wears colorful clothes inspired by the national flag and bears a striking resemblance to Lumumba. His nickname, “Lumumba Vea”, comes from this tribute.His extraordinary support has won the admiration of the entire football world. After returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, the Congolese government even gave him a four-wheel-drive car in recognition of his popularity.
Delayed arrival of the World Cup:
Mboladinga’s journey to the World Cup was already facing problems before the visa issue.He missed DR Congo’s opening match against Portugal due to travel restrictions and quarantine linked to the country’s Ebola outbreak.He finally arrived in time for Congo’s second group game against Colombia in Guadalajara, which the African side lost 1-0.But he was unable to travel to Atlanta for Saturday’s must-win match against Uzbekistan after failing to obtain a US visa.
DR Congo makes World Cup history
Even without their most famous supporter in the stands, DR Congo produced one of the biggest results of the tournament.After falling behind to an early goal by Eldor Shomurodov, Congo fought back in the second half to win 3-1.Yoane Wissa equalized from the penalty spot in the 68th minute after being fouled inside the box. Fiston Mayele then put Congo ahead before Wissa scored again in stoppage time to seal a famous victory.The victory brought DR Congo into the Round of 32 for the first time in the country’s history.This was Congo’s second appearance at a FIFA World Cup and their first since competing as Zaire in 1974, when they lost all three of their group games.The victory also made DR Congo the eighth African nation to reach the knockout stage of the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup.
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