“Statue Man” Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, aka Lumumba Vea, appeared at Tuesday’s World Cup match at Guadalajara Stadium to support the Democratic Republic of Congo against Colombia, maintaining his trademark gesture with one arm raised throughout the game. Mboladinga won an international following during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for his motionless impersonation of Congo’s first president Patrice Lumumba, a global symbol of anti-colonial struggle who was overthrown and assassinated by the CIA in 1961. Lumumba Vea was included in the DRC’s official delegation to the FIFA tournament this year after both players and fans demanded his attendance, but he missed the DRC’s opening match against Portugal last week due to Ebola-related quarantine delays. @kambalem joins BT to explain. Watch full episodes of BT Live, join as a member at the link in our bio.

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