Albert Kangwanda

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Albert Kangwanda

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|7|df=y}}

| birth_place = Luanshya, Zambia

| height = 1.75 m

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Spartanii Sportul (on loan from Al-Hilal Omdurman)

| clubnumber = 11

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2017–2018

| clubs1 = Red Arrows

| years2 = 2019–2020

| clubs2 = Kafue Celtic

| years3 = 2020–2021

| clubs3 = Zanaco

| years4 = 2021–2022

| clubs4 = Kafue Celtic

| years5 = 2022–2023

| clubs5 = Gorica

| caps5 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2022

| clubs6 = → Hrvatski Dragovoljac (loan)

| caps6 = 4

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2023

| clubs7 = Red Arrows

| years8 = 2023–

| clubs8 = Al-Hilal Omdurman

| years9 = 2024

| clubs9 = → Red Arrows (loan)

| caps9 =

| goals9 = 5

| years10= 2024–

| clubs10= → Spartanii Sportul (loan)

| caps10 = 8

| goals10= 0

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 = Zambia U20

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2020–

| nationalteam2 = Zambia

| nationalcaps2 = 12

| nationalgoals2 = 5

| club-update = 5 January 2025

| ntupdate = 24 May 2024

}}

Albert Kangwanda Jr (born 7 April 1999) is a Zambian footballer who plays as a forward for Moldovan Super Liga club Spartanii Sportul, on loan from Al-Hilal Omdurman.

Club career

He started his career in Young Nkwazi. Following a stint in the Zambian Super League with Red Arrows in 2017 and 2018, he moved down to the second tier with Kafue Celtic.{{cite news|url=https://zambianfootball.co.zm/albert-kangwanda-the-next-big-thing/|title=Albert Kangwanda: The next big thing|date=9 April 2020|author=|publisher=ZamFoot|access-date=24 May 2024}}

In the summer of 2022, Kangwanda signed for Croatia's HNK Gorica.{{cite news|url=https://zambianfootball.co.zm/gorica-unveil-albert-kangwanda/|title=Croatian side Gorica unveil Albert Kangwanda|date=4 August 2022|publisher=ZamFoot|access-date=24 May 2024}} He was loaned out to NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac in Croatia's second tier, playing 4 games, but chose to return to Zambia and Red Arrows in early 2023. Said Kangwanda; "I was so far away from home; it was very difficult to adapt, and then you are back, your family is close, and your friends are close; it’s always motivating".{{cite news|url=https://bolanews.co/soccer/chipolopolo/kangwanda-explains-why-he-failed-to-adapt-in-europe-after-just-four-months/|title=Kangwanda explains why he failed to adapt in Europe after just four months|author=Mwila, RIchard|date=20 January 2023|publisher=Bola News|access-date=24 May 2024}}{{soccerway|albert-kangwanda/687269|access-date=24 May 2024}}

In the summer of 2023 he went on to Libyan club Al-Hilal Omdurman.{{cite news|url=https://zambianfootball.co.zm/kangwanda-joins-al-hilal-sc-on-4-year-deal/|title=Kangwanda joins Al Hilal SC on 4 year deal|date=30 July 2023|publisher=ZamFoot|access-date=24 May 2024}} In the spring of 2024 he re-signed with Red Arrows, this time on loan.{{cite news|url=https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/albert-kangwanda-returns-to-red-arrows-on-loan|title=Albert Kangwanda returns to Red Arrows on loan|date=2 April 2024|publisher=SABC Sport|access-date=24 May 2024}}

International career

Internationally, Kangwanda represented Zambia U20 in the 2018 COSAFA U-20 Cup and the 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. Following a failed attempt at the 2022 African Nations Championship qualification, Kangwanda won the 2022 COSAFA Cup with Zambia, and was described as a hero after his performance in the final.{{cite news|url=https://zambianfootball.co.zm/kangwanda-off-to-croatia-to-join-gorica/|title=Cosafa hero Kangwanda off to Croatia to join Gorica|date=2 August 2022|publisher=ZamFoot|access-date=24 May 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/zambia/daily-nation-newspaper/20220803/281861532264860|title=Albert Kangwanda treks to Europe|author=Miyoba, Michael|date=3 August 2022|publisher=Daily Nation|access-date=24 May 2024}} He scored three goals at the 2023 COSAFA Cup, helping Zambia win back-to-back titles, whilst also becoming joint top goalscorer of the tournament.{{NFT player|91529|access-date=24 May 2024}}