AFCON 2025: How Viral DR Congo Super-Fan ‘Kuka Mboladinga’ Made History as a Living Monument
Published on January 8, 2026 at 3:46 PM by Evance Kapito
While trophies are won on the pitch, the history of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will forever include the name of a man who didn’t kick a single ball. Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, the 53-year-old DR Congo fan known as “Kuka,” has established a global reputation that transcends sport, leaving Morocco as an immortal symbol of African pride.
Mboladinga became a worldwide sensation for his “Lumumba Pose” a rigid, motionless imitation of the statue of Patrice Lumumba, the DRC’s first Prime Minister and independence hero.
In a feat of physical and emotional endurance admired by football lovers worldwide, Mboladinga took his final stand during the DRC’s Round of 16 clash against Algeria. For the full 120 minutes of the intense, goalless battle that stretched into extra time, he remained frozen in his trademark pose.
There was no seat, no rest, and no surrender. Dressed in a sharp suit and tie to honor Lumumba’s legacy as a statesman, he stood as a silent guardian for his nation, mirroring the bronze memorial in Kinshasa.
The resilience of the “human statue” became a focal point of the global broadcast, showing more grit than many on the field. However, history took a cruel turn in the 119th minute when Algeria’s Adil Boulbina scored a last-gasp winner.
As the final whistle blew and the DRC’s journey ended, the man who had stood like stone for two hours finally collapsed. He didn’t walk away in anger; instead, he broke down in tears. These were not tears of weakness, but of “pure, burning love” a mixture of pride, pain, and unshakable patriotism that spoke louder than a thousand speeches.
Mboladinga’s impact was so profound that even his opponents paid homage. Following the match, the Algerian national team presented him with a signed jersey in a gesture of sportsmanship. He was also granted a private audience with CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, who hailed him as a symbol of the tournament’s spirit.
Though the “Leopards” have been eliminated, Mboladinga leaves AFCON having made history. He proved that a fan can be more than a spectator; he can be a vessel for a nation’s soul and its history.
