Lecce annoyed by Zambia call as Banda requires surgery on fractured ankle | OneFootball

Lecce have confirmed that winger Lameck Banda requires surgery on a fractured ankle after being called up for national team duty with Zambia against the club’s wishes.

Banda was forced off injured after 20 minutes of Lecce’s 1-1 draw with Empoli just before the international break. The club claim they had scheduled medical tests for him on the following Monday morning, but the player instead had to leave that day as he had been called up for international duty with Zambia.

Though Banda was unable to play in his nation’s recent 1-0 victory over the Ivory Coast, he remained with the squad and had medical tests with the national team doctors.

According to a statement released by Lecce, Zambia’s medical tests revealed a fracture in the player’s ankle. Banda was only given the all-clear to return to Italy on Sunday.

Banda has since returned to Lecce and has had an MRI scan on his foot, which has confirmed the fracture in his ankle. The club have confirmed that the injury requires surgery to fix.

Banda requires surgery after Zambia call-up

“Although medical visits and diagnostic tests had been scheduled following the injury he suffered against Empoli, he had to leave Lecce the following morning in compliance with FIFA regulations, as he had been requested by the Zambia national team,” a club statement read.

“The Zambian Football Federation requested the player’s presence, despite the club expressing a desire for the player to not leave due to the injury.

“After undergoing medical examinations with the national team staff, which revealed a fracture of the medial malleolus in his left ankle, the player was only authorised to return early to Lecce yesterday evening. He immediately underwent a CT scan at the Radiology Studio in Lecce, which has confirmed the diagnosis.

“The player will have to undergo surgery in the next few days.”