Fashion Sakala Explained

Fashion Sakala
Full Name:Junior Fashion Sakala[1]
Birth Date:14 March 1997
Birth Place:Chipata, Zambia
Height:1.78 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Al-Fayha
Clubnumber:17
Years1:2015–2016
Clubs1:Nchanga Rangers
Years2:2016–2017
Clubs2:Zanaco
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Spartak-2 Moscow
Caps3:35
Goals3:10
Years4:2017–2018
Clubs4:Spartak Moscow
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2018–2021
Clubs5:KV Oostende
Caps5:80
Goals5:24
Years6:2021–2023
Clubs6:Rangers
Caps6:59
Goals6:21
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Al-Fayha
Caps7:31
Goals7:19
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Zambia U20
Nationalcaps1:10
Nationalgoals1:7
Nationalyears2:2019
Nationalteam2:Zambia U23
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2017–
Nationalteam3:Zambia
Nationalcaps3:32
Nationalgoals3:9
Club-Update:22:16, 23 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:16:56, 23 February 2024 (UTC)

Junior Fashion Sakala (born 14 March 1997) 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 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 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.[2] He helped Zanaco win the Zambia Super League in 2016.[3] In February 2017, he signed a three-year contract with Russian Premier League club FC Spartak Moscow,[4] after being invited for a trial at their training camp in Cyprus.[5] 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.[6]

On 9 July 2018, he signed a three-year contract with Belgian club KV Oostende.[7]

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.[8] On 31 July, he made his official debut in a 3–0 win over Livingston in the league.[9] On 31 October, he scored his first hat-trick for Rangers in a 6–1 league victory over Motherwell.[10] On 4 October 2022, Sakala made his UEFA Champions League debut as a substitute in a 2–0 away loss against Liverpool.[11]

Al-Fayha

On 8 August 2023, Sakala joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha on a two-year contract.[12] [13]

International career

Youth level

Sakala played youth international football for Zambia at under-20 and under-23 levels.[14] He featured for the Zambia under-20 team that won the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations,[15] scoring three goals at the tournament.[16] 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.[17] He scored seven goals in ten appearances in total at under-20 level.[14] Sakala played one game for the Zambia under-23 team,[14] against Nigeria at the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.[18]

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.[19] [20]

Career statistics

Club

[21]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Spartak-2 Moscow2016–17Russian Football National League4040
2017–18Russian Football National League31103110
Total35103510
KV Oostende2018–19Belgian Pro League2435192386
2019–20Belgian Pro League28821309
2020–21Belgian Pro League281310533416
Total80248214510231
Rangers2021–22Scottish Premiership30953201305012
2022–23Scottish Premiership29123040504112
Total592183601809124
Al-Fayha2023–24Saudi Pro League311920834122
Career total205741856026314526987

International

[22]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Zambia201730
201830
201931
202040
202145
202240
202373
202440
Total329

Scores and results list Zambia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sakala goal.[22]

List of international goals scored by Fashion Sakala
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 19 June 2019 Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 1–0 1–4 Friendly
2 10 October 2021 National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia 1–0 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 13 November 2021 National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia 2–0 4–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 3–0
5 4–0
6 16 November 2021 Stade Hammadi Agrebi, Tunis, Tunisia 1–3 1–3 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 23 March 2023 Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia 1–1 3–1 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
8 17 October 2023 Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium, Al Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates 2–0 3–0 Friendly
9 17 November 2023 Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia 3–2 4–2 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Zanaco

Rangers

2021–22[23]

Zambia U20

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017: List of Players. FIFA. https://web.archive.org/web/20181225174344/https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2017/pdf/FWYC_2017_SquadLists.pdf. 25 December 2018. dead.
  2. News: Fashion returns from trials…looks set to spearhead Zanaco . zambianfootball.co.zm . 8 February 2017 . 16 December 2022.
  3. News: Zanaco to face Rwandese side in CAF Champions League . zambianfootball.co.zm . 22 December 2016 . 16 December 2022.
  4. News: Deal done!! Fashion to Spartak Moscow . zambianfootball.co.zm . 14 February 2017 . 16 December 2022.
  5. News: Fashion Sakala impressing at Spartak Moscow . zambianfootball.co.zm . 1 February 2017 . 16 December 2022.
  6. News: Fashion Sakala makes debut for Spartak Moscow . zambianfootball.co.zm . 24 March 2017 . 16 December 2022.
  7. Web site: K.V. Oostende. NIEUWE AANVALLER: FASHION JUNIOR SAKALA. 9 July 2018. Dutch.
  8. News: Sked . Joel . Rangers confirm signing of pacey Fashion Sakala on four-year deal . 4 May 2021 . The Scotsman . 4 May 2021.
  9. Web site: Aribo returns and Sakala makes Premiership debut in Rangers win over Livingston. Goal. 31 July 2021. 6 August 2021.
  10. Web site: Motherwell 1-6 Rangers . BBC Sport . 31 October 2021 . 31 October 2021.
  11. Web site: Liverpool 2-0 Rangers . BBC Sport . 4 October 2022 . 5 October 2022.
  12. News: Fashion Sakala: Zambia forward joins Al-Fayha after exiting Rangers 'with heavy heart' . BBC Sport . 8 August 2023 . 9 August 2023.
  13. News: الزامبي فاشون سكالا جونيور فيحاوي حتى 2025 . alfiha.com . 8 August 2023 . 9 August 2023.
  14. Web site: F. Sakala's matches . besoccer.com . 16 December 2022.
  15. News: Hosts Zambia beat Senegal to win the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations . BBC Sport . 12 March 2017 . 16 December 2022.
  16. Web site: Fashion Sakala U20 Africa Cup 2017 Zambia . worldfootball.net . 12 February 2022 . 16 December 2022.
  17. News: Italy knock Zambia out of Under-20 World Cup . BBC Sport . 5 June 2017 . 16 December 2022.
  18. News: Big Blow! : Fashion Sakala ruled of the U23 AFCON tournament . zambianfootball.co.zm . 14 November 2019 . 16 December 2022.
  19. News: 2018 World Cup: Algeria beaten in Zambia as Ivory Coast win in Gabon . BBC Sport . 2 September 2017 . 16 December 2022.
  20. News: Kennedy Mweene encourages red-carded Fashion Sakala . africanfootball.com . 5 September 2017 . 16 December 2022.
  21. Web site: F. Sakala . Soccerway . 24 May 2024.
  22. Web site: Fashion Sakala . National Football Teams . 23 February 2024.
  23. News: Rangers 2-0 Hearts . BBC Sport. 21 May 2022. 21 May 2022.
  24. News: Moffat . Colin . 26 February 2023 . Kyogo strikes twice as Celtic beat Rangers in final . BBC Sport . 26 February 2023.
  25. News: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers . BBC Sport. 18 May 2022. 18 May 2022.
  26. Web site: FULLTIME – COSAFA U20: South Africa 1 Zambia 2 – Final. 16 December 2016 . 2021-07-06. en-GB.