{"id":110461,"date":"2026-01-08T22:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T22:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=110461"},"modified":"2026-01-08T22:35:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T22:35:00","slug":"algeria-apologises-after-player-mocks-congolese-superfan-dressed-as-pan-african-hero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=110461","title":{"rendered":"Algeria apologises after player mocks Congolese superfan dressed as pan-African hero"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Algeria\u2019s football federation has apologised to a Congolese superfan who has become one of the stars of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) being held in Morocco.<\/p>\n

Michel Nkuka Mboladinga has supported the Democratic Republic of Congo by dressing up as the country\u2019s revered first leader, Patrice Lumumba, and remaining stock-still throughout every match.<\/p>\n

He stood on a pedestal with his right arm raised \u2013 just like Lumumba\u2019s famous statue in DR Congo\u2019s capital, Kinshasa \u2013 as fans around him cheered.<\/p>\n

But after Algeria beat the Leopards on Tuesday, Algerian player Mohamed Amine Amoura faced a backlash for mimicking Mboladinga and falling to the ground as though the statue had been knocked over.<\/p>\n

This prompted the 25-year-old forward to post an apology on Instagram, saying his gesture was not intended to disrespect DR Congo.<\/p>\n

The Desert Foxes had looked set to go to penalties before Adil Boulbina scored in the 119th minute, securing a place in the quarter-finals, where they face Nigeria on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that moment, I wasn\u2019t aware of what the person or symbol in the stands represented. I simply wanted to joke around, in a good-natured way, without any ill intent or desire to provoke anyone,\u201d said Amoura, who also plays for the German team Wolfsburg.<\/p>\n

Lumumba is not only seen as a hero in DR Congo, where he was assassinated in 1961 in a plot backed by Belgium, the UK and the US, but is also regarded as one of the most prominent voices in Africa\u2019s anti-colonial movement.<\/p>\n

Michel Nkuka Mboladinga stood motionless throughout DR Congo\u2019s four Afcon matches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the final whistle on Tuesday at Rabat\u2019s Moulay Hassan Stadium, which saw the Leopards knocked out of the tournament, Mboladinga \u2013 who with his hairstyle and glasses looks remarkably like Lumumba \u2013 was visibly distraught.<\/p>\n

He removed his glasses to wipe away some tears, slowly got down from his makeshift plinth and leant against it with his head in his hands.<\/p>\n

The Algerian Football Association (Faf) reached out to Mboladinga following Amoura\u2019s contrite statement and invited him to the hotel where the North African team are staying in Rabat to meet the players.<\/p>\n

The superfan was not able to get to Morocco\u2019s capital so Faf\u2019s media officer Sa\u00efd Fellak travelled to Casablanca\u2019s Novotel Hotel to see him and other Congolese supporters on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n

There Fellak presented Mboladinga with his own Desert Foxes jersey with the name \u201cLumumba\u201d printed on the back.<\/p>\n

Videos and photos of the entente cordiale, also attended by Congolese Sports Minister Didier Budimbu, were captured by Congolese fans, showing Mboladinga next to Fellak with his new football shirt.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Oumse dia (@oumse_dia_8)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It is not clear if the Lumumba superfan and his pedestal will make it to Mexico, where the Leopards are expected to play in March\u2019s highly anticipated intercontinental World Cup qualifiers.<\/p>\n

Six teams will compete to be allocated the final two places up for grabs for the World Cup, which kicks off in June.<\/p>\n

Algeria have already qualified for the tournament being jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, and Amoura hopes to see the Leopards there too.<\/p>\n

\u201cI respect Congo and their team. Honestly, I wish them the best and hope they qualify for the World Cup,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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