The Democratic Republic of Congo superfan, Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, met up with Algeria’s national soccer team on Wednesday after a player with the North African side appeared to mock his gesture following their round of 16 game.
Mboladinga made headlines and went viral on social media because of his conspicuous posture during the Democratic Republic of Congo’s games at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Mboladinga, who has a striking resemblance to the assassinated Congolese independence hero, Patrice Émery Lumumba, posed like his statue during the DRC’s games.
But after the DRC’s 1-0 defeat to Algeria after extra time on Tuesday, Algerian player Mohamed Amoura stood before the DRC fans and mimicked Mboladinga’s gesture before falling on the ground as if a statue had been toppled.
Amoura received backlash over his actions, as people perceived that he was ridiculing Lumumba, who led the DRC to gain independence from Belgium in 1960. Amoura later took to social media to apologize.
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“The match against Congo was a big game, very intense, with a lot of tension and emotion on the pitch,” Amoura, who also plays for the German soccer team, Wolfsburg, wrote, per ESPN.
“I want to clarify one thing: at that moment, I was not aware of what the person or the symbol present in the stands represented. I simply wanted to joke around, in a light-hearted spirit, without any bad intention or desire to provoke anyone.
“I respect Congo and their team. Honestly, I wish them all the best and I hope they qualify for the World Cup. If my attitude may have been misunderstood, I sincerely regret it, because that was absolutely not my intention.
“I remain focused on the pitch and on representing my country with pride.”
Following their match, the Algerian team invited Mboladinga to meet them. He was gifted with an Algeria jersey with Lumumba printed behind.
