DR Congo Fans during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Algeria and DR Congo at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 06 January 2025 ©Weam MostafaBackpagePix
Thursday Jan 08, 2026. 20:00
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is celebrated not only for its standard of football; the tournament is far more than just another competition. AFCON is a celebration of the various and beautiful cultures and countries.
It is a stage not only for the players to express themselves through their talent and abilities on the pitch, but the fans as well. Travelling from far and wide, the tournament unites people and allows them to express the love they have for their country and national team.
However, an incident in the round of 16 on Tuesday left a sour taste to what should have been a sweet victory for Algeria, when a player mocked a fan from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) – and what he stood for.
In the aftermath, amends have been made. All seems to be well. But could Algeria face any punishment for the incident?
The Fennecs claimed a late victory in the dying moment of extra-time at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat as Adil Boulbina found the top right corner with a superb strike from the edge of the area in the 119th minute.
Following Boulbina’s goal, centre-forward Mohamed Amoura mocked Mboladinga’s pose in celebration, imitating the stance of his beloved DR Congo fan Michel Nkuka Mboladinga before falling to the ground.
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga was a permanent fixture in DR Congo’s 2025 AFCON games, standing still and in a suit on an elevated platform for his nation’s full matches with his right arm raised in dedication to Patrice Lumumba, the country’s first Prime Minister.
Lumumba played a vital role in the nation gaining independence from Belgium in 1960 but was assassinated in January 1961. He served as an inspiration for many following liberation movements across the continent.
Algeria gained independence from France in 1962, a year after Lumumba’s assassination.
The mocking of Mboladinga, and Lubamba by extension, caused an uproar on social media.
But no action has been taken by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against the Fennecs or Amoura. Even if the organization wanted to, would it fall within the scope of possible disciplinary action?
The CAF Disciplinary Code, published in 2018, defines disrepute as: “Any action or deed committed by a person referred to […] which the CAF Secretariat may determine will bring the game or the body into disgrace. Such matters will be referred to the Disciplinary Board.”
Article 83 of Chapter two document states that: “National associations, clubs and officials are responsible for ensuring that the game is not brought into disrepute in anyway whatsoever by the conduct of their players, officials, members, supporters, spectators (especially using dangerous objects and/or lasers ) and any other persons exercising a function at a match at the request of the association or club.”
Therefore, should Amoura’s actions be deemed inappropriate by the CAF Secretariat, the Algerian Football Federation would be held responsible.
In terms of the tournament rules, CAF’s Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations document states in chapter 17 that the “CAF disciplinary Board is empowered to apply disciplinary measures on all incidents registered on the official match reports, before, during or after the match, and this in conformity with the present regulations and CAF disciplinary code.”
According to the tournament rules, if found guilty of a serious violation, the guilty player could be suspended not only from the tournament, but from all CAF competitions.
Given the meaning of Mboladinga’s dress and pose, Amoura’s mocking of it, and the viral response to the incident on social media, the governing body could be well within its rights to pursue action.
Perhaps smartly, Algeria moved quickly to attempt to rectify the situation.
Amoura released a statement on his social media accounts. He apologized for his actions, claiming it was a light-hearted joke and he was not aware of the reason for Mboladinga’s pose.
“The match against Congo was a big game, very intense, with a lot of tension and emotion on the pitch.
“I want to clarify one thing: at that moment, I was not aware of what the person or the symbol present in the stands represented. I simply wanted to joke around, in a light-hearted spirit, without any bad intention or desire to provoke anyone.
“I respect Congo and their team. Honestly, I wish them all the best and I hope they qualify for the World Cup. If my attitude may have been misunderstood, I sincerely regret it, because that was absolutely not my intention.
“I remain focused on the pitch and on representing my country with pride,” wrote Amoura.
In addition, members of the Algerian camp met with Mboladinga and gifted him an Algerian jersey with “Lumumba” on the back.
Be they genuine gestures or not, CAF would still be well within its rights to sanction either the player or the organisation – or both – for what has certainly brought the beautiful, African game into disrepute.
By Nic Gleeson