World Cup: Meet Michel Mboladinga, the DR Congo fan who stood like a statue for 90 minutes

NEW DELHI: One of the most recognizable faces of DR Congo football was absent from the stands as the African nation drew 1-1 with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in their opening World Cup match on Wednesday.Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, better known as Lumumba Vea, was unable to attend the game in Houston as he is currently undergoing a 21-day quarantine following the Ebola outbreak.Mboladinga became famous throughout the football world for his unique support of the DR Congo national team. During the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, television cameras repeatedly focused on a sharply dressed fan who stood still for entire matches, sometimes 90 or even 120 minutes.His unusual appearance quickly went viral on social media, with many fans calling him the “sculpture fan”. Mbolading’s pose is a tribute to Patrick Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and one of the country’s most important historical figures. His raised arm mirrors the famous Lumumba monument in Kinshasa, while the vintage glasses, tailored suit and strong posture are carefully chosen to honor the independence leader.After gaining worldwide attention during AFCON, DR Congo decided to include him as part of their official World Cup delegation.However, his suspension meant he was unable to watch his country’s historic match against Portugal from the stands.His absence was felt by many supporters who had become accustomed to seeing him during DR Congo matches.However, there is good news. Mboladinga is expected to complete his suspension in time to take part in DR Congo’s next World Cup match against Colombia on June 23.On the pitch, DR Congo produced one of the surprises of the tournament, holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw.DR Congo, playing in their first World Cup in 52 years, became the second African nation to impress European opposition after Cape Verde’s goalless draw against Spain earlier in the week.Portugal coach Roberto Martinez admitted that his team did not perform at their best.“The World Cup is the tournament where that happens,” Martinez said. “Sometimes the performance doesn’t live up to the challenge.”In front of a crowd of 68,777 at the NRG Stadium, most of whom supported Portugal, DR Congo picked up the first World Cup point in their history after losing all three of their previous matches in the competition.While the result on the pitch was memorable, many fans will be hoping that when DR Congo next face Colombia, their famous ‘statue fan’ will be back in his place in the stands.