Viral DR Congo Fan at AFCON Spotted Partying with Moroccan Dancer
- DR Congo’s “living statue” Kuka Mboladinga was spotted dancing joyfully in a viral AFCON 2025 celebration video in Morocco
- Mboladinga became famous for standing motionless throughout DR Congo’s group games, mimicking the Patrice Lumumba statue in Kinshasa
- Fans loving the moment: The clip has delighted supporters, showing the human side of the superfan as the Leopards prepare for their round-of-16 clash with Algeria
DR Congo’s iconic superfan Michel “Lumumba” Kuka Mboladinga has swapped his trademark motionless statue pose for full-on dance mode in a hilarious viral video from an AFCON 2025 celebration in Morocco.
Mboladinga first captured global attention after standing completely still for the entirety of DR Congo matches, mimicking the iconic statue of Patrice Lumumba in Kinshasa.
Source: Getty Images
Lumumba, DR Congo’s first Prime Minister following independence from Belgium in 1960, was assassinated in 1961, and Mboladinga’s tribute quickly became one of the tournament’s most striking images.
Bearing a strong resemblance to the late leader, the devoted supporter wore a jacket and tie as he stood rigid for every minute of the Leopards’ three group-stage games.
While DR Congo fans’ celebrations both inside stadiums and back home have gone viral, it was Mboladinga’s dedication to honouring Lumumba that truly spread like wildfire on social media.
DR Congo superfan spotted partying with Moroccan dancer
However, the man known for his unbreakable composure was finally caught breaking character at a lively Congolese gathering in Morocco.
In the now-viral clip, he is seen grooving enthusiastically in front of a professional belly dancer as cheers and toasts rang out around him.
Beaming with joy, “Lumumba” danced as the performer in a sparkling purple outfit took centre stage, with the DR Congo flag proudly displayed on a large screen behind them.
The video, humorously captioned about him forgetting his “mission to liberate the RDC in Morocco,” has exploded online, offering a rare glimpse of the human side of the fan whose endurance became one of AFCON 2025’s standout stories.
Watch Mboladinga's video below:
As DR Congo prepare for a challenging round-of-16 showdown against Algeria, supporters are enjoying this off-field moment, seeing their beloved “living statue” finally relax and celebrate after helping spur the Leopards into the knockout stage.
Mboladinga’s pose against Botswana was the third time he paid tribute to Patrice Lumumba during the tournament by copying the famous statue.
He had earlier struck the same stance in DR Congo’s 1-0 victory over Benin and their 1-1 draw with Senegal, turning the gesture into a defining symbol of respect and dedication.
The superfan is expected to be among the DRC faithful when Sebastien Desabre’s side face Algeria, led by the in-form Riyad Mahrez, in their Round of 16 clash next Tuesday.
Source: Getty Images
Full list of qualified teams
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that all 16 teams for the knockout stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been confirmed, despite a few group matches still to be played.
Egypt was the first side to secure qualification, while Nigeria reached a historic milestone by finishing the group stage with a perfect record.
Angola, Botswana, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda and Zimbabwe have all been eliminated from the tournament.
Source: YEN.com.gh
