DR Congo dey play dem first ever World Cup knockout match against England on Wednesday, but dem go do am without di famous superfan Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, wey pipo know as Lumumba Vea.
Lumumba Vea don dey present for DR Congo matches for more dan ten years. E come get international fame during di Africa Cup of Nations for December and January.
E dey impossible to miss for di crowd, standing like statue, hand raise for pose and outfit wey imitate Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, wey dem kill for 1961.
Mboladinga bin miss DR Congo first World Cup match, di historic 1-1 draw wit Portugal for di start of group stage, because of quarantine protocol wey relate to Ebola outbreak for im home country.
But e bin dey present to see di team run Colombia close. However, Lumumba Vea bin miss di subsequent win against Uzbekistan wey take DR Congo enter World Cup knockout phase, because dem deny am visa to enter United States.
So while di Portugal match bin for Houston, e no go fit attend anyway because of quarantine. Di team face Colombia for Estadio Akron for Zapopan, Mexico, before Lumumba Vea stay behind south of di border as DR Congo fly to Atlanta.
Di England match dey again for Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Atlanta, and di situation wit di visa for Mboladinga no change. E mean say e remain for Mexico.
But dis no be di last wey World Cup fans go see Lumumba Vea, for two reasons. Somebody else go fill similar role for di crowd against England, as DR Congo ambassador to United States tell Daily Telegraph.
Dere also be possibility say DR Congo, although dem be huge underdogs, fit beat England to progress. Di World Cup bracket don already map out say di winner of di match go play Mexico for Azteca Stadium, wey dey back for Mexico.
But dat one go be di last match wey dem hold for Mexico, as all subsequent rounds from quarterfinals onward, for any pathway, dey for United States. So if DR Congo pull off di seemingly impossible and go deep for di tournament, di only way di true Lumumba Vea go dey present na if Mboladinga fit somehow gain legal entry into America.
