Chipolopolo and US Lecce winger Lameck Banda has successfully recovered from a recent ankle injury that kept him sidelined for two months. The 24-year-old was forced to undergo surgery on his left ankle in December, following an injury sustained during Lecce’s Serie A match against Empoli in early November.

The injury, which ruled Banda out of the final Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone, led to tensions between Lecce and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). Despite the injury, the Zambian national team insisted on Banda joining their squad for the qualifiers, even though Lecce had expressed concerns about his fitness.

“Lameck Banda, despite having immediate medical visits and diagnostic tests scheduled after the injury sustained in the Lecce- Empoli match on November 8, was required to report to the Zambian National Team the following morning, as per FIFA regulations,” Lecce stated in a release on November 18. “This was against the club’s wishes, given the severity of the injury.”

After further examination by the Zambian team’s doctor, Banda was sent back to Italy, where it was revealed that he had suffered a fracture to the medial malleolus of his left ankle. Lecce proceeded with surgical treatment, performing a reduction and fixation of the fracture with screws.

Now fully recovered, Banda has been included in Lecce’s squad for their Serie A match against Fiorentina tonight. Despite a disrupted season, where he has only made ten appearances and contributed one assist, his return offers a boost for Lecce as they continue their campaign.

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