ABSA Cup winners Red Arrows have secured the signature of teenage striker Eliya Mandanji, the ZamFoot Crew can exclusively reveal.
Mandanji becomes the second acquisition for the Airmen who have already secured defender Owen Mwamba after his departure from Mufulira Wanderers.
As earlier reported by the ZamFoot Crew Mandanji left ZANACO last month. He joined the Bankers at the start of last season on loan from ZPL National League side Kafue Celtic.
Chisi Mbewe has been a huge admirer of the lanky forward hence moving swiftly to secure his services ahead of the transitional season and the CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
Mandanji, 18, has penned an eighteen month long loan deal with Arrows from Kafue Celtic, The ZamFoot Crew understands. The deal will see the forward stay at Nkoloma Stadium until December 2027.
Mandanji became an instant hit at Sunset Stadium scoring goals and winning over the fans. The former Kanyama Lions forward managed 10 goals in 26 games in the MTN Super League for ZANACO FC and was the club’s top goalscorer.
He was in Europe for a month, first spending time in Denmark before moving to Finland. In Denmark Mandanji attended a training camp with four time Danish Superliga Champions, Football Club Midtjylland.
Prior to moving to ZANACO Mandanji emerged as the Crocs’s top goalscorer in the 2024/2025 ZPL National League season with 8 goals in 26 appearances.
Mandanji was part of the Zambia U20 National Team that suffered a group stage elimination at the TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations. He was also part of the Rest Team that played in the All Stars vs The Rest Team at Woodlands Stadium in 2024.
He was also part of the Chipolopolo Boys squad that suffered a disastrous group stage elimination at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He was also part of the team that participated in the Mukuru Four Nations Tournament earlier this year.
