DR Congo’s superfan Michael Nkuka Mboladinga, famously known as Lumumba Vea, will finally be at the World Cup after arriving in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Monday.
Lumumba became famous at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco during the Leopards’ games, where he stood still, raising his hand for the entirety of the games, emulating the exact pose of DR Congo’s first Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.
The famous fan missed DR Congo’s game against Portugal last week because of travel clearance restrictions by the US in regard to the outbreak of Ebola.
After days of quarantine in another country, Mbolandinga made his way to Mexico on Monday just in time for today’s game between DR Congo and Colombia. He is also expected to attend the final group game against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on 27th June.
It should be noted that earlier this year, Mbolandinga was denied a visa to attend the Inter-Continental Playoff game between DR Congo and Jamaica, played in Mexico.
Despite making attempts at the 11th hour, travelling from DR Congo to Kenya and then to Ethiopia in frantic attempts to process his visa, Mbolandiga ultimately ran out of time to make the playoff match.
With his country returning to the World Cup after 52 years, it will be a satisfying moment to see the famous human statue pose in the stands on the global stage.
