Having recuperated from a thigh injury that kept her out of action for seven months, Barbra Banda marked her return to the pitch with a goal in Orlando Pride’s 2-1 defeat to Seattle Reign FC. She outpaced her marker before firing past the opposing goalkeeper to level matters during the opening matchday of the 2026 NWSL.
Elsewhere, Racheal Kundananji played the entirety of Bay FC’s 2-1 win over newcomers Denver Summit FC, while Prisca Chilufya made a ten-minute cameo off the bench in Angel City’s 4-0 throttling of Chicago Stars.
In Austria, with his first goal since November, Kingstone Mutandwa converted his first-half penalty to guide SV Ried to a 2-1 victory over WSG Tirol.
Ricky Chanda gets first topflight goal in 7-1 win, Chikola notches debut goal in Spain
Ricky Chanda put the cherry on the cake, scoring Nomme United’s seventh goal against Parnu with a diving header. His compatriot, Benjamin Chisala was substituted on in the 72nd minute of the Premium Liiga encounter.
In Egypt, David Simukonda, who appeared as a 108th-minute substitute, missed a decisive spot kick on his debut as Ceramica Cleopatra lost 6-5 on penalties to El Gaish in an Egypt Cup quarterfinal tie after a goalless draw in normal time. On the other hand, Pascal Phiri remained on the bench during Pyramids’ CAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg match against AS FAR, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Peter Chikola scored his first goal for Linares Deportivo in the Spanish fourth tier, equalizing in the 96th minute vs. UCAM Murcia.
Fashion Sakala makes 100th Al Fayha appearance, Lameck Banda collapses
Fashion Sakala Jr. played his 100th match for Al Fayha in all competitions, starting a 1-0 triumph against Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League. In England, Patson Daka came off the bench for Leicester City, who lost 3-1 to Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.
Lameck Banda collapsed to the turf during US Lecce’s 2-1 defeat vs. Napoli after a collision, exiting the match on a stretcher. The winger has since been discharged from the hospital and is stable, as per a statement from the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). Elsewhere, Joseph Liteta was an unfielded substitute as Pisa condemned Cagliari to a 3-1 loss in the Serie A.
Sabobo, Twizard debut for their new clubs, Siame features for the first time in four months
Joseph Sabobo Banda played the last half hour of Alashkert’s 1-0 defeat at Pyunik, making his debut in Armenia while Twizard Mulenga replaced an injured Juan Daniel Sato in the 41st minute to get off the mark for Atletico Sanluqueno in the Spanish third tier.
Lubambo Musonda took to the pitch in the 77th minute in a 1-1 draw between 1.FC Magdeburg and Darmstadt in the Bundesliga II. In Scotland, Miguel Chaiwa put in an impressive 75 minute shift in a barren stalemate between Hibernian and Livingston.
In the Czech First League, Benson Sakala clocked 81 minutes for Bohemians Praha against Viktoria Plzen while Mathews Banda made the substitute bench for the first time. Edward Chilufya appeared in the 68th minute during Midtjylland’s narrow loss to Nordsjælland in Denmark.
Gift Siame was in action for Leganes B for the first time since November after recovering from an injury. Elsewhere, Chanka Zimba featured after the 77th minute as Inverness Caledonian Thistle shared the spoils with Cove Rangers.
Jadel Katongo benched again, Lahne still searching for first goal in 2026
Jadel Katongo did not leave the substitute bench for the fourth game in succession, watching Samsunspor claim a 2-1 victory over Kayserispor in the Turkish topflight. Meanwhile in Bahrain, Frankie Musonda started Bahrain FC’s 4-1 battering to Al Khalidiyah.
Chitoshi Chinga bagged his first cleansheet of the season as Caps United claimed a 1-0 win vs. Herentals FC in Zimbabwe. Elsewhere, Andrew Phiri made the starting XI for Hardrock FC against ZPC Kariba.
Jack Lahne got 79 minutes into the tank in a narrow victory at SK Sturm Graz as he continues to await his first official goal since the turn of the year. Rodrick Kabwe started on the bench for Al Ramadi in Iraq as did Toaster Nsabata for Sekhukhune United in South Africa.
Enock Sakala Jr and Emmanuel Mutale played 71 and 54 minutes, respectively, as Gulf United took on Al Jazira Hamra in the Middle East while Tumelo Mununga made a cameo for Leganes U19 in the Spanish youth league.
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