Today at 16:00 UTC, the Round of 16 match of the World Cup will take place, featuring DR Congo facing England. For the first time in the tournament, the team’s most devoted fan, who has become an iconic figure of the World Cup, will be absent.
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who gained viral fame online, will not be able to attend the DR Congo match against England.
The well-known supporter, nicknamed “Lumumba Vea,” was denied a visa to enter the United States.
Mboladinga rose to prominence during the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year by standing motionless in the stands with his hand raised throughout all of DR Congo’s matches.
However, he will not be able to replicate his famous pose in the stands of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
He found himself in a difficult situation in Mexico after being refused a visa due to complications related to the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo.
The US ambassador clarified that the issue stems from a delay in visa processing rather than an outright ban on Mboladinga’s entry into the country.
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