US Lecce has confirmed that Zambian midfielder Lameck Banda will be sidelined for several months after undergoing surgery on a serious injury. The operation, which took place on November 25, 2024, followed an injury sustained just before the international break earlier in November.
Banda, who had been performing well for Lecce, was forced off the pitch just 20 minutes into the 1-1 draw with Empoli, a match that saw him struggle with pain before leaving the field.
The Italian club promptly scheduled further medical assessments, but the player was later called up to the Zambia national team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
This created a complication, as he was required to leave Lecce the day after the injury in accordance with FIFA regulations, despite the club’s preference for him to remain for additional tests.
In their statement, Lecce explained the severity of Banda’s injury, revealing that he had fractured his left medial malleolus.
To address the fracture, he underwent surgery for reduction and fixation with screws at the Humanitas Clinical Institute in Rozzano, Milan.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Lorenzo Di Mento, director of the trauma unit, in collaboration with Dr. Antonio Orgiani, a leading specialist in minimally invasive surgery, and the co-head of health for US Lecce.
The club confirmed that the surgery was successful, but the recovery process will take time.
According to Lecce’s statement, Banda is expected to return to competitive action in approximately three months, marking a significant period of convalescence for the midfielder.
The situation has also sparked tension between US Lecce and the Zambia national team. Although the club had arranged for Banda to undergo
