Congo’s famous living statue finally made his long-awaited World Cup debut on Tuesday for the team’s defeat against Colombia.
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who gained fame during the Africa Cup of Nations for posing as a statue of Congo’s assassinated independence leader Patrice Lumumba for the entirety of games, was in attendance in Guadalajara for the Group K clash.
The famed superfan missed Congo’s surprise 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in their opener last week.
He was forced to miss the Leopards’ opening clash against the European giants due to Ebola quarantine requirements.
Lumumba Vea, as the sharply dressed supporter is known for his resemblance to the slain leader, was at his seat about an hour before the game at Estadio Akron. He wore a bright red jacket and tie, yellow shirt and blue pants.
When the game began, he stood motionless on a pedestal behind the Congo bench with his right arm raised.
Congo’s famous living statue finally made his long-awaited World Cup debut on Tuesday
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga poses as a statue of Congo’s assassinated independence leader Patrice Lumumba for the entirety of the nation’s soccer games
However, the Leopards could not recreate their heroic efforts from their draw against Portugal for Mboladinga.
Instead, the living statue was forced to watch as Congo agonizingly slipped to defeat through a late goal for the Colombians.
Daniel Munoz scored in the 76th minute after the Colombians had been held back by a strong performance from Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who made five difficult saves in the first 20 minutes.
Mpasi had no chance to stop Munoz’s left-footed strike from inside the area after the ball deflected off a defender.
Congo had opened its first World Cup in 52 years with a surprising 1-1 draw against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.
Colombia has six points from two matches in Group K, two ahead of Portugal and five clear of Congo. Portugal routed Uzbekistan 5-0 behind a pair of goals by Ronaldo earlier Tuesday in Houston.
Daniel Munoz ruined Mboladinga’s party as he scored a late winner in the 76th minute
Munoz’s left-footed strike from inside the area after the ball deflected off a defender
Colombia needs a draw against Portugal on Saturday to win the group. That result would also be enough to send Portugal to the knockout stage.
Nkuka Mboladinga became a social media sensation at the Africa Cup for posing as a statue of Lumumba on a pedestal with his right hand raised and standing still throughout games.
Lumumba was an activist who helped to end Belgium’s colonial rule over Congo in 1960. He became the newly independent country´s first prime minister and was seen as one of Africa’s most promising leaders, but he was assassinated within a year during a struggle against a Belgian-backed secessionist movement in the mineral-rich Katanga region.
A Belgian court in March ordered a 93-year-old former diplomat to stand trial for the slaying. Etienne Davignon, who previously denied wrongdoing, is the last living among 10 Belgians suspected of involvement in the killing and has been charged with ‘participation in war crimes’ for his role in the ‘unlawful detention and transfer’ of Lumumba.
