Michel Kuka Mboladinga, the superfan of the DR Congo national team, will not be able to attend the decisive World Cup match against Uzbekistan on Saturday after his U.S. visa application was denied.
Mboladinga gained fame during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco earlier this year. He made a powerful impression by standing motionless throughout DR Congo's matches, a tribute to the country's first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, who was executed in 1961. Mboladinga bears a striking resemblance to Lumumba and wears colorful suits in the national flag's colors.
His nickname "Lumumba Vea" comes from his raised-arm pose, mirroring a statue of Lumumba in the capital Kinshasa. In stark contrast to the shouting, singing fans around him, Mboladinga remains perfectly still for the entire game.
After supporting Congo in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Colombia in Guadalajara, Mexico, he will not be in Atlanta for the crucial match that could secure a spot in the round of 32. DR Congo's Ambassador to Washington, Kapinga Yvette Ngandu, told Reuters she hopes he will be granted a visa if the team advances to the knockout stage.
"I hope he will bring his special support to the whole team," Ngandu said.
Mboladinga's unique cheering style has made him a global sensation. After returning from Morocco in January, the Congolese government gifted him a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
His presence at the World Cup had already been delayed by travel restrictions for visitors from DR Congo due to the Ebola outbreak. Confirmed Ebola cases in the country had risen to 1,203, with 321 deaths, according to government figures on Friday.
