It has been 65 years since Patrice Lumumba’s transformative reign as DR Congo’s first prime minister was abruptly ended by Western influence, but the young leader’s legacy has been pivotal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), particularly in the third week, where the competition narrowed to its final four sides.  

Here is how the third week of AFCON 2025 unfolded, with Lumumba’s legacy of African resilience finding new expression both on and off the pitch.

AFCON 2025: Third Week on the Pitch

At the culmination of the third week of AFCON 2025 in Morocco, four deserving and convincing nations remain from the 24 that started the competition: Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, and Egypt. Senegal were the first to book passage into the semifinals following a 1-0 victory over ten-man Mali, who bowed out of the competition without scoring a goal in regulation time.

The Pharaohs of Egypt later set up a semifinal clash with the Teranga Lions courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Côte d’Ivoire, preserving AFCON’s long-standing pattern of defending champions failing to retain their crown since 2010.

A 2-0 win over Cameroon also ensured Morocco’s place in the semifinals, where they will face three-time champions and last edition’s finalists, Nigeria. The Super Eagles produced one of the best performances of the tournament against Algeria, defeating them 2-0 in what marked the first time the Desert Warriors’ defence was breached at AFCON 2025.

The match left several major talking points, including Nigeria’s unprecedented 17th AFCON semifinal qualification and the team’s renewed cohesiveness, especially after the cracks witnessed against Mozambique. However, it was Akor Adams’ tribute to Lumumba that will be remembered for years to come. After rounding goalkeeper Luca Zidane to score what proved to be Nigeria’s decisive goal, the Sevilla striker raised one hand to the crowd, reprising the Pan-Africanist salute that has become an off-the-pitch symbol of the tournament through DR Congo fan Michel Kuka Mboladinga, who performed the gesture relentlessly until he collapsed following Congo’s defeat to Algeria.

AFCON 2025: Third Week Off the Pitch

After Congo’s heartbreaking extra-time loss to Algeria in the quarterfinals, attention shifted to the stands where Mboladinga stood motionless in his usual spot. Once the exit was confirmed, he removed his glasses, wiped away his tears, and in a final act of emotion, fell back into the crowd at the end of his team’s AFCON journey.

The emotional moment gained further attention when Algerian forward Mohamed Amoura appeared to mock the celebration by mimicking the fan’s pose before falling to the ground. The incident sparked widespread criticism across social media, with many condemning the act as an affront to Lumumba’s legacy and its wider symbolism across the continent.

In response, Amoura issued a public apology on social media, stating that he was unaware of the meaning and historical significance of the gesture associated with the DR Congo fan.

“I simply wanted to tease in a good-natured way, without any ill intent,” he wrote. “I respect Congo and its team.

The Algerian Football Federation later invited Mboladinga to the team’s hotel, where he met with the players and was presented with a personalised Algerian national team shirt bearing the name Lumumba on the back.