Zambo Anguissa Back in Napoli’s Starting XI After Long Term Injury

Antonio Conte has handed André-Frank Zambo Anguissa his first start in four months.

The Cameroonian powerhouse features in the lineup against Lecce, marking a definitive end to a lengthy spell on the sidelines that had left a noticeable void in the Partenopei midfield.

Anguissa’s road to full fitness has been gradual. He made his official return to competitive action just last week, coming off the bench during Napoli’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hellas Verona. His 45-minute cameo at the Bentegodi provided a glimpse of the physicality and ball-retention qualities Napoli has missed, but today’s inclusion in the starting XI signals he is finally ready to shoulder the full weight of the midfield.

Before the thigh injury that halted his season in November, Anguissa was enjoying one of his most productive and influential spells in a Napoli shirt. He had established himself as far more than just a defensive anchor, developing into a genuine goal-scoring threat from deep.

Across twelve Serie A appearances, ten of which were starts, he managed to find the back of the net four times—including a decisive match-winner against Lecce in the reverse fixture back in October.

His efficiency on the ball was equally vital to Napoli’s tactical structure, maintaining a passing accuracy of over 84% while adding an assist to his tally. His ability to dominate the transition phase and disrupt opposition play was instrumental in Napoli’s early-season surge, and his return comes at a critical juncture as the club looks to navigate a demanding spring schedule.

Napoli enters Matchday 29 occupying 3rd place in the Serie A standings with 56 points. While their form has remained steady with recent wins over Torino and Verona, the mountain left to climb remains steep.

The gap at the summit is currently 12 points behind league leaders Inter Milan, who sit comfortably on 68 points.

With AC Milan currently separating the two in second place (60 points), Napoli’s primary objective today is to solidify their grip on the top four while keeping the pressure on the Milanese giants.

For Conte, having Anguissa back alongside Billy Gilmour provides the tactical balance needed to navigate a tricky Lecce side and keep the faint hopes of a title charge alive.