By Nworisa Michael
Nigerian forward Akor Adams’ goal celebration during the Super Eagles’ victory over Algeria has continued to spark conversations across African football circles, with many fans attaching symbolic meaning to the gesture.
After scoring Nigeria’s second goal, Adams raised his right arm in a pose that several supporters across social media platforms linked to a popular Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) supporter whose stance became widely noticed earlier in the tournament.
During DR Congo’s AFCON campaign, a supporter repeatedly went viral for standing motionless with his right arm raised throughout matches. According to widely shared online accounts, the pose was inspired by statues and imagery associated with Patrice Lumumba, DR Congo’s first Prime Minister and a symbol of African nationalism and resistance.
Lumumba, who was assassinated in 1961, remains a powerful historical figure in Congolese and African political memory.
The supporter’s silent posture drew admiration from football fans across Africa and beyond, with many interpreting it as a tribute to Lumumba’s legacy of dignity, sacrifice and resilience. The gesture became a recognizable symbol among DR Congo supporters before the team’s elimination from the tournament by Algeria in a tightly contested knockout match.
Following that encounter, online debates erupted over celebrations by some Algerian players, which DR Congo supporters considered insensitive, though clarifications and apologies later emerged.
Against this backdrop, Adams’ celebration against Algeria quickly gained attention, with many fans interpreting it as an act of symbolic solidarity with DR Congo supporters and a nod to the Lumumba-inspired pose that had come to represent their campaign.
While Akor Adams has not publicly explained the intention behind his celebration, the moment underscores how football gestures often take on deeper meanings shaped by history, memory and fan interpretation.
Beyond goals and results, the episode has been widely described as a reminder of football’s ability to carry cultural and historical symbolism, connecting nations and people across the continent.