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DR Congo faces England on Wednesday in its first-ever World Cup round-of-16 clash, but will do so without their iconic superfan Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, popularly known as 'Lumumba Vea.'
Lumumba Vea has been a fixture at DR Congo games for over a decade, earning greater global recognition during the Africa Cup of Nations held in December and January. He is an impossible-to-miss figure in the stands, standing motionless with one arm raised, dressed in a costume meant to honor Congolese independence leader and prime minister Patrice Lumumba—who was assassinated in 1961.
Mboladinga was unable to attend DR Congo's opening World Cup fixture, the landmark 1–1 draw with Portugal at the beginning of the group stage, due to quarantine requirements tied to an Ebola outbreak in his home country. He was, however, present to watch the team push Colombia all the way.
Yet Lumumba Vea was absent from the subsequent victory over Uzbekistan that sent DR Congo through to the World Cup knockout rounds, after being refused a visa to enter the United States.
As the Portugal game was held in Houston, he would not have been able to attend regardless due to the quarantine restrictions. The team then faced Colombia at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico, before Lumumba Vea was left behind south of the border as DR Congo traveled on to Atlanta.
The England fixture is once again at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and Mboladinga's visa situation remains unresolved. As a result, he continues to wait in Mexico.
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Could Lumumba Vea Still be at Other World Cup Matches?
World Cup spectators have not seen the last of Lumumba Vea—for two reasons. Someone else will take on a similar role in the stands for the England match, the Daily Telegraph has been told by the DR Congo ambassador to the United States.
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There is also the chance that DR Congo, despite being heavy underdogs, upsets England to advance. The World Cup bracket has already determined that the winner of this tie will go on to face Mexico at the Azteca Stadium—back on Mexican soil.
However, that would mark the final match played in Mexico, as all subsequent rounds from the quarterfinals onward—on any route through the bracket—are scheduled for the United States. So if DR Congo achieves the seemingly improbable and advances deep into the tournament, the only way the real Lumumba Vea can be there in person is if Mboladinga manages to secure lawful entry into America.