Human statue steals the show at Afcon

ADIL Boulbina and Amad Diallo were the ouens as Algeria and Ivory Coast scored contrasting last-16 victories in Morocco on Tuesday to complete the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals line-up.

A stunning strike from substitute Boulbina with one minute of extra time remaining gave Algeria a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat after an intense clash.

The star of the show in that match, though, was Congo’s human statue Michel Kuka Mboladinga who will be remembered as the tournament’s most remarkable supporter.

The colourfully-dressed Kuka has earned fame as the fan who stands completely immobile throughout his team’s games, looking towards the sky with his right arm raised and palm open. 

He has become a media star and on Tuesday was accompanied by a delegation of several hundred Congolese supporters whose trip to Morocco was paid for by the country’s government.

Kuka’s pose is inspired by that of a statue of Congolese independence leader and former prime minister Patrice Lumumba which stands in Kinshasa.

Diallo, meanwhile, scored the opening goal and created the second as defending champions Ivory Coast overcame west African neighbours Burkina Faso 3-0 in Marrakesh.

A mouth-watering quarterfinal line-up begins on Friday when Senegal face Mali and Cameroon tackle hosts Morocco.

On Saturday, Algeria face in-form Nigeria, then Ivory Coast take on record seven-time title-holders Egypt.