Michel Kuka Mboladinga, a notable DR Congo super fan, has been denied a visa to enter the United States to watch his team in World Cup action.
Mboladinga made headlines around the world during the Africa Cup of Nations for adopting a unique stance on the terraces during matches.
Standing motionless throughout matches, he was paying tribute to Patrice Lumumba, the country’s first prime minister.
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Lumumba is a national hero in DR Congo after helping the country gain independence before he was assassinated in 1961.
However, despite attending his country’s World Cup game against Colombia in Guadalajara, he has been denied a visa to enter the United States.
Michel Kuka Mboladinga denied entry to visit the US
Speaking to Reuters, the Congolese ambassador in Washington DC, Kapinga Yvette Ngandu, said she hoped that Mboladinga would get a visa if his country progressed into the knockout rounds.
She said: “I hope he brings his own brand of support to the team.”
DR Congo drew with Portugal in their first game at this year’s World Cup before losing to Colombia. They are next due to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta and have hope of reaching the round of 32 by finishing at least third in Group K.
He earned the nickname ‘Lumumba Vea’ by raising his arm to adopt a similar pose to one that Lumumba holds in a statue of him in the country’s capital, Kinshasa.
This year’s World Cup has been full of stories of people being denied visas to enter the US during the World Cup.
Perhaps the biggest story so far was Somalian referee Omar Artan being denied entry after landing at Miami International Airport, with his diplomatic passport and single entry US visa rejected at the border.
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