Lameck Banda Free to Make Al-Swehly Debut After FIFA Clearance
Zambia international Lameck Banda has been given the green light to play for Libyan champions Al Swehly SC, following FIFA’s approval of his registration despite an unresolved contractual standoff with Italian side US Lecce.
According to African football analyst Micky Jnr, Al Swehly successfully completed the signing of the winger after edging out Lecce in the race for his services. The player’s International Transfer Certificate (ITC) has now been issued and forwarded to Libya, officially clearing him for competitive action.
Banda is believed to have committed to a three-year deal with the North African champions, positioning him as a key addition ahead of their CAF Champions League campaign. Al Swehly are scheduled to begin their continental journey against Zanzibar’s KVZ FC in the preliminary round, with a potential high-profile clash against Tunisian powerhouse Espérance Sportive de Tunis looming in the next stage.
Despite the registration breakthrough, the situation remains far from settled. US Lecce insist that Banda is still under contract until June 2027, and had already escalated the matter to FIFA after the player reportedly failed to return for pre-season duties.
FIFA’s approval of the ITC does not automatically close the dispute. Under its regulations, players can be provisionally registered while contractual disagreements are reviewed and adjudicated by the relevant authorities.
If Lecce succeed in proving that Banda breached a valid agreement without just cause, the case could still result in sporting sanctions or financial penalties. FIFA may also assess whether Al Swehly had any improper involvement in the transfer process.
For now, however, Banda is cleared to take the field for Al Swehly, with the final resolution of the dispute still pending before football’s governing structures.
