Swiss coach Nora Hauptle has been appointed Zambia’s Copper Queens coach on a reported two-year contract days after leaving Ghana’s Black Queens.
In a statement, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) confirmed Hauptle’s hiring to replace Zambian Bruce Mwape whose reign was characterized by success and accusations of off-field reports of misconduct.
FAZ General Secretary, Reuben Kamanga, said Hauptle has been tasked with building on Mwape’s success and taking the Copper Queens to greater heights.
“Her duty is to consolidate on the gains made in our women’s game in the last few years that has seen us win bronze at the WAFCON, qualify to a maiden FIFA World Cup in 2023 and back-to-back Olympic qualifications,” he said.
Hauptle is a former defender who represented Switzerland before calling time on her playing career in 2009 when he ventured into management. The 41-year-old was appointed Black Queens’ coach in 2022 and only resigned on Wednesday at the end of her contract on December 31, 2024, to take up the new job. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) released a statement regarding Hauptle's contract expiry:
"The Ghana Football Association (GFA) announces the expiry of its contract with Nora Hauptle, erstwhile Head Coach of the Senior National Female Football Team, the Black Queens. The GFA wishes to express its sincere gratitude to Nora Hauptle for her service to the Black Queens and Ghana Women's Football.
For the two years that Nora Hauptle worked with the Black Queens, her salary and accommodation was solely taken care of by the GFA. The GFA, desirous of continuing the engagement with Nora opened renewal talks with her in June 2024, knowing that her contract would be ending on December 31, 2024. The GFA presented Nora with a significantly enhanced salary and working proposition. Unfortunately, both parties could not agree on the renewal terms."
The Swiss mentor has the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) scheduled for July 2025 in Morocco as her first major assignment with Zambia. Hauptle earned the Black Stars WAFCON qualification but failed to make it to the Olympic Games ironically after losing to the Copper Queens.
Kamanga added that Mwape will be redeployed to a developmental role in Zambia women’s football set up.
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