The 21-year-old American kidnapped during his father’s doomed attempt to overthrow the Congolese president was “an innocent boy” following his misguided dad, his mother insisted.

Marcel Malanga went from being a star football player at his Utah high school to being one three Americans detained during the attempted coup against Felix Tshiekedi on Sunday.

He traveled to the central African nation with his 41-year-old father, former car salesman Christian Malanga, who was shot dead during the uprising.

“This was an innocent boy following his father,” Marcel’s mother, Brittney Sawyer, wrote on Facebook Monday.

“I’m so tired of all the videos being post all over and being sent to me. God will take care of you people! Karmas a bitch!” she added.

Christian Malanga moved from the Congo to the US as part of a refugee resettlement program in the late 1990s.

The father of eight sold cars before he eventually returned to his native country to serve as an officer fending off rebels.

He was exiled in 2012 following an initial failed coup – but continued to refer to himself as the president of the “President of New Zaire” government.

Marcel, who was born in the US, frequently referred to himself online as “WARCEL” and shared photos and videos of him and his father shooting guns.

He also shared information about diamonds he was supposedly selling and opined about Christianity and women.

Brittney Swayer did not immediately return The Post’s request for a comment.