Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, the famous Congolese fan statue, made his long-anticipated debut at the World Cup on Tuesday. However, his presence did not inspire the African team, which lost to Colombia 0-1. The loss leaves DR Congo needing a victory against Uzbekistan to advance past the group stage.
Nkuka gained fame during the last Africa Cup of Nations by posing as a statue of Patrice Lumumba, the assassinated leader of DR Congo, throughout matches. He attended the Group K match in Guadalajara wearing a bright red jacket, a yellow shirt, and blue pants.
Fan Statue Misses Portugal Match Before Debut
Nkuka was unable to attend the surprising 1-1 draw against Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in the opening match last week due to Ebola quarantine requirements. He arrived at the Estadio Akron an hour before the match, standing still on a pedestal behind the Congo bench.
With his right arm raised, Nkuka watched as DR Congo was defeated by a late goal from Colombia, scored by Daniel Munoz in the 76th minute. The Congolese goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, had made several difficult saves in the first 20 minutes but was ultimately beaten by Munoz’s shot, which deflected off a defender.
Currently, Colombia sits atop Group K with six points from two matches, leading Portugal by two points and DR Congo by five. In another match of the second round, Portugal achieved a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, featuring a double from Cristiano Ronaldo in Houston.
Nkuka has gone viral on social media during the Africa Cup of Nations, where he stood motionless on a pedestal with his arm raised, embodying the spirit of Lumumba. Lumumba was a pivotal activist in ending Belgium’s colonial rule over Congo in 1960 and became the first prime minister of an independent Congo before being assassinated during a conflict fueled by a Belgian-backed secessionist movement in the mineral-rich Katanga region.
