Despite the heartbreak of his team’s loss to Algeria, Mboradinga won the hearts of fans and left a lasting impact on the tournament.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Algeria in extra time and withdrew from the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, but their most famous supporter left a lasting impact on football fans and players alike.
Michel Ngcuka Mboradinga, who quickly became a fan favorite and social media star with his unique tribute to his country’s hero Patrice Lumumba, said goodbye to AFCON after meeting with the Algerian team at a hotel on Wednesday.
Dressed in a brightly colored suit, Mboradinga stood still with his right arm raised during all of his team’s games in the tournament, standing out among the thousands of Democratic Republic of Congo fans.
“The fan who made headlines for standing motionless throughout the match becomes a symbol of AFCON pride, memory and resilience,” a fan wrote in a tribute to X.
At the start of every match, Mboladinga stepped onto a pedestal and posed in imitation of Lumumba’s monument in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
However, he was devastated when Adil Bourbina’s goal in the 119th minute saw his team lose to Algeria.
Mboladinga, nicknamed Lumumba Bear by Congolese supporters, took off his glasses, wiped away tears and returned to the crowd for his final performance in the final minutes of his team’s last-16 match.
To add insult to injury, Mboradinga appeared to be taunted by Algeria player Mohamed Amoula, who ran to the Congolese side, imitated a fan’s pose and fell to the ground in celebration.
Amoura’s actions were widely criticized on social media, with fans calling for him to apologize to Mboradinga and the Congolese people.
“He (Mboradinga) draws attention to a historical figure who fought for Congolese independence and was in solidarity with the Algerian revolution against the occupation,” sports journalist Leila Hamed wrote.
The Algerian forward later posted an apology on social media, saying he did not know the meaning or history of the Democratic Republic of Congo fans’ gesture.
“No malicious intent, just wanted to tease in a good-natured way,” he wrote.
“I respect Congo and its team.”
To further make amends, the Algerian Football Association invited Mboladinga to the team hotel on Wednesday. He met the players and was given an original Algerian team shirt with Lumumba embroidered on the back.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is ranked 56th in the FIFA World Rankings and has a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup by qualifying for the inter-confederation play-off final on March 31st.
