The “fan statue” finally appears in the 2026 World Cup

The Congolese Michel Ngcuka Mboladinga, known as “Lumumba Via,” and also known as the “statue fan,” caught the attention in his country’s match, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, against Colombia, which ended in favor of Colombia with a goal without a response, in the match that brought them together, at dawn today, at the “Guadalajara” Stadium in the city of “Guadalajara”, in Mexico, for the second round of Group 11 competitions in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, held. Currently in America, Canada and Mexico, and extends until next July 19.

Michel missed Congo’s opening match against Portugal, which ended in a positive draw (1-1) due to travel restrictions and precautionary doses due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in his country, as well as entry visa complications, before he finally registered his presence in the World Cup stands at dawn on Wednesday.

Michel became famous on football fields for his amazing ability to transform into a living statue on the field, where he stood for the entire 90 minutes without moving or turning around, raising his right hand up without tiring, and wearing a classic suit and glasses inspired by the colors of his country’s flag, in embodiment of a statue of the late Patrice Lumumba (the independence hero and first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo). His nickname “Lumumba Via” means that “Lumumba is still alive” in the hearts of his countrymen.

Michel gained his international fame during the 2025 African Nations Championship in Morocco, before he turned into a phenomenon on social media platforms, receiving official honor for his exceptional loyalty, at the request of the national team player and the approval of the President of the Republic of the Congo, with his name officially included in the official delegation of the national team heading to the 2026 World Cup, and the state sponsoring all his travel and accommodation expenses.