Fashion Sakala


Junior Fashion Sakala is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha and the Zambia national team.
Sakala played for Zambian clubs [Nchanga Rangers F.C.|Rangers F.C.|Nchanga Rangers] and Zanaco, winning the Zambia Super League in 2016 with the latter. He signed for Spartak Moscow in February 2017. Sakala made no first-team appearances for the club, instead appearing for Spartak-2 Moscow in the second tier of Russian football. He joined Belgian club KV Oostende in July 2018, where he scored 31 goals in 102 appearances over three seasons. He joined Rangers on a free transfer in 2021, where he won the Scottish Cup and scored 24 goals in 91 appearances.
Sakala was a member of the [Zambia national Zambia national under-20 football team|under-20 football team|Zambia under-20 team] that won the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. He made his senior international debut in September 2017.

Club career

Early career

Sakala began his senior career in Zambia with Nchanga Rangers and Zanaco. He helped Zanaco win the Zambia Super League in 2016. In February 2017, he signed a three-year contract with Russian Premier League club FC Spartak Moscow, after being invited for a trial at their training camp in Cyprus. He made his debut in the Russian Football National League for FC Spartak-2 Moscow on 23 March 2017, in a game against FC Baltika Kaliningrad.
On 9 July 2018, he signed a three-year contract with Belgian club KV Oostende.

Rangers

On 4 May 2021, with his Oostende contract due to expire in the summer, Sakala signed a pre-contract agreement with Scottish Premiership club Rangers on a four-year deal. On 31 July, he made his official debut in a 3–0 win over Livingston in the league. On 31 October, he scored his first hat-trick for Rangers in a 6–1 league victory over Motherwell. On 4 October 2022, Sakala made his UEFA Champions League debut as a substitute in a 2–0 away loss against Liverpool.

Al-Fayha

On 8 August 2023, Sakala joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha on a two-year contract.
On 11 January 2025, in a game vs Al-Ittihad Sakala scored to become Al-Fayha's all time top goal scorer in the RSL, with 24 goals, surpassing Ronnie Fernandez and Danilo Asprilla.

International career

Youth level

Sakala played youth international football for Zambia at under-20 and [Zambia national Zambia national under-23 football team|under-23 football team|under-23] levels. He featured for the Zambia under-20 team that won the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, scoring three goals at the tournament. He also played for the under-20 team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring four goals in the tournament. He scored seven goals in ten appearances in total at under-20 level. Sakala played one game for the Zambia under-23 team, against Nigeria at the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

Senior level

Sakala made his debut for the senior Zambia national team on 2 September 2017, in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria, and was sent off for two bookings in the 56th minute.
In December 2023, he was included in the squad of twenty-seven Zambian players selected by Avram Grant to compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
On 10 December 2025, Sakala was called up to the Zambia squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
119 June 2019Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates1–01–4Friendly
210 October 2021National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia1–01–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
313 November 2021National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia2–04–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
413 November 2021National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia3–04–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
513 November 2021National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia4–04–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
616 November 2021Stade Hammadi Agrebi, Tunis, Tunisia1–31–32022 FIFA World Cup qualification
723 March 2023Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia1–13–12023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
817 October 2023Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium, Al Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates2–03–0Friendly
917 November 2023Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia3–24–22026 FIFA World Cup qualification
108 October 2025Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar City, Tanzania1–01–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
1118 November 2025Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola2–22–3Friendly

Honours

Zanaco
Rangers
Zambia U20