Incident at Africa Cup of Nations
During the recent Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament in Morocco, Algerian football player Mohamed Amine Amoura was involved in an incident following a match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). A Congolese supporter, Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, had gained recognition at the tournament for his tribute to Patrice Lumumba, DR Congo's first leader. Mboladinga attended matches dressed to resemble Lumumba, standing on a pedestal with his arm raised, mimicking the pose of Lumumba's statue in Kinshasa.
After Algeria defeated DR Congo, Amoura mimicked Mboladinga's stance before falling to the ground, an action that drew criticism for potentially mocking the fan's tribute.
Player's Apology and Federation's Response
Mohamed Amine Amoura, 25, who also plays for German team Wolfsburg, issued an apology via Instagram. He stated that his action was not intended to disrespect DR Congo or the symbol represented by the fan. Amoura clarified that his gesture occurred in the moment of celebration after Algeria secured a quarter-final spot with an 119th-minute goal.
Following Amoura's apology, the Algerian Football Association (Faf) extended an invitation to Mboladinga to meet the Algerian team at their hotel in Rabat. As Mboladinga was unable to travel to Rabat, Faf's media officer, Saïd Fellak, instead met him and other Congolese supporters at a hotel in Casablanca. During this meeting, Mboladinga was presented with an Algerian team jersey bearing the name "Lumumba." Congolese Sports Minister Didier Budimbu was also present at the meeting.
Patrice Lumumba's Significance
Patrice Lumumba, assassinated in 1961, is considered a significant historical figure in DR Congo and a prominent voice in Africa's anti-colonial movement.
Future World Cup Qualifiers
DR Congo is scheduled to participate in intercontinental World Cup qualifiers in March, competing for two remaining spots in the tournament. Algeria has already qualified for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Amoura expressed his hope for DR Congo's successful qualification.