The DR Congo fan known as Lumumba Vea, who became an online sensation during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, will be not be present for his country’s World Cup play-off against Jamaica in Guadalajara after failing to secure a visa for entry into Mexico.

Lumumba Vea, real name Michel Kuka Mboladinga, is known for his snappy suits and for his ability to hold a statuesque pose — a tribute to former DR Congo prime minister Patrice Lumumba — for entire matches.

He was planning to be at the Estadio Akron for Tuesday’s game but has revealed on social media that he was unable to make the trip for administrative reasons.

“It is with deep regret that I must inform you that I will not be going to Mexico after all,” he wrote on X, going on to describe a last-ditch attempt to secure a visa by travelling to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

“Unfortunately, even in an emergency, obtaining an express visa requires at least one day’s processing,” he wrote. “Considering the duration of the journey to Mexico (…) it seemed impossible to me to arrive in time and carry out this mission properly.”

A source close to Kuka Mboladinga told The Athletic that the Visa issues centred around the necessity of including of bank statements in his application. Having travelled to Kenya in order to fly to Mexico, he was unable to produce the required paperwork in time.

Instead, Kuka Mboladinga has returned to Kinshasa, the capital of DR Congo, and will be willing the team on from there.

“Whether near or far, we remain united behind our Leopards,” he wrote.

DR Congo reached the inter-confederation play-offs by defeating Nigeria in the second round of African qualifying. They are seeking their second appearance at the World Cup, having qualified in 1974 — when the country was known as Zaire — losing all three of their games against Scotland, Yugoslavia and Brazil.