DR Congo's living-statue fan Mboladinga reaches Mexico after Ebola travel delays

Michel Kuka Mboladinga, the DR Congo super-fan known for standing completely still in a jacket and tie to honour the country’s first Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, has arrived in Mexico after travel restrictions linked to an Ebola outbreak delayed his journey to the World Cup.

Mboladinga — nicknamed “Lumumba Vea” — will be in the stands when DR Congo face Colombia in Guadalajara on Tuesday, having first come to international attention at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. His tribute involves mirroring the pose of a Lumumba statue in Kinshasa, standing motionless amid the singing and cheering fans around him. Lumumba was assassinated by firing squad in 1961.

His presence at the Cup of Nations generated significant controversy when Algeria forward Mohamed Amoura mocked him following Algeria’s victory over Congo, prompting a social media backlash and a subsequent apology from the Algerian football federation.

The travel restrictions that held Mboladinga back were imposed on visitors from the DR Congo following an Ebola outbreak in the country, which has now infected more than 1,000 people and claimed 254 lives.

His arrival comes at an encouraging moment for the Congolese squad. In their opening group game in Houston, Congo fell behind to a Joao Neves header before Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa equalised on the stroke of half-time, and the African side held Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal at bay for a 1-1 draw.

A positive result against Colombia on Tuesday would move Congo closer to a place in the knockout rounds. They conclude their group stage against Uzbekistan on Saturday evening.