Lameck Banda


Lameck Banda is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a left winger for club Lecce and the Zambia national team.

Club career

On 10 July 2019, Banda signed a contract with Russian Premier League club FC Arsenal Tula. He joined his compatriots Evans Kangwa and Kings Kangwa at the club.
He made his debut in the Russian Premier League for Arsenal Tula on 12 July 2019 in a season-opening game against FC Dynamo Moscow, as a starter.
On 3 September 2020, Banda signed with Maccabi Netanya. On 7 September 2020, Arsenal Tula confirmed the transfer and announced that it is a loan until May 2021. On 6 August 2021, he returned to Israel, joining Maccabi [Petah Tikva F.C.|Maccabi Petah Tikva] on a season-long loan with an option to buy.
On 4 August 2022, Banda joined newly promoted Serie A club U.S. Lecce on a permanent deal, signing a four-year deal with an option for a fifth season. He then made his debut for the Italian club on 13 August, coming on as a substitute for Federico de Francesco in the 74th minute of a 2–1 league loss against Inter Milan. By doing so, he became the first Zambian player to ever feature in a Serie A match.
On 4 January 2023, Banda was racially abused, together with his team-mate Samuel Umtiti, by a group of away supporters during a home league game against Lazio. The Lazio fans involved kept targeting the two players with racist chants throughout most part of the match, with referee Livio Martinelli being forced to interrupt the game for a few minutes during the second half – although the Zambian player had already been substituted at half time. The game eventually ended in a 2–1 win for Lecce. The club's president himself, Saverio Sticchi Damiani, defended both the abused players in the post-match. Lazio apologised for the behaviour of their supporters by issuing an official statement on social media, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino showed support to Umtiti and Banda through a message on his Instagram profile.

International career

Banda has been capped by Zambia at the under-17 football team|under-17], under-20 football team|under-20] and under-23 levels. He debuted for the senior Zambia national team in a friendly 3–1 win over the Congo on 25 March 2022.
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, Banda was called up to the Zambia squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
123 March 2023Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia2–13–12023 [Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group H|2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification]
223 March 2023Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia3–13–12023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
317 November 2023Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia2–24–22026 [FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group E|2026 FIFA World Cup qualification]