The most famous fan of the Democratic Republic of the Congo national team, Michel Koka Mbuladinga, will miss the decisive match against Uzbekistan in the World Cup, scheduled for Sunday, after he was unable to obtain an entry visa to the United States.
Mboladinga gained wide fame during the African Cup of Nations earlier this year, thanks to his unique style of encouraging the national team, as he stood still throughout the match, raising his arm in salute to the country’s first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, who is considered one of the prominent national figures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The fan, nicknamed “Lumumba Via,” is known for his similar features to Lumumba, and he is keen to wear suits in the colors of the Congolese flag, which made him one of the most prominent faces in the national team’s stands.
Mbuladinga attended his country’s last match against Colombia in Mexico, but he will not be able to be in Atlanta to support the team in the fateful confrontation against Uzbekistan, during which the team needs to win in order to maintain its hopes of qualifying to the round of 32.
For her part, the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Washington, Kapinga Yvette Ngandu, expressed her hope that he would obtain a visa if the team continued its journey in the tournament, stressing that she looked forward to his presence to provide his distinctive style of supporting the team.
Mboladinga’s arrival to the World Cup was also delayed due to restrictions imposed on travelers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, against the backdrop of the Ebola outbreak in the country, which resulted in more than 1,200 confirmed infections and 321 deaths, according to official data.
