Hauptle (left) and Kamanga: Photo Credit:
Zambia Football Association Media.
Former Ghana’s Black Queens coach Nora Häuptle officially took over Zambia's senior women’s football team on Friday afternoon when the Swiss revealed that it was her dream to manage the Copper Queens.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga unveiled Häuptle alongside her backroom team of compatriot Swiss Philippe Hasler, Zambians Charles Haalubono and Enala Phiri at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka.
Speaking after signing a three-year contract, the former Switzerland defender, who has replaced Bruce Mwape, said she has always admired Zambian players’ quality.
“It was always a wish for me to take over this team because there are so many fantastic players, there is so much potential I see in this team and of course, I know that the expectations are very high. The team already got bronze (at the WAFCON 2022) and it’s our objective to go and top this result,” she told FAZ media.
Taking his turn, Kamanga said they had attached Zambian coaches to the Swiss to build their capacities.
“One of the targets that we have set is that of winning the women’s Africa Cup of Nations coming up in July and also make sure that we qualify for the 2026 edition which will be a qualifier for the FIFA World Cup,” Kamanga told the media.
“We have also tasked the technical bench to qualify us for the next Olympics. Beyond the Copper Queens assignment, we expect the new coach to keep tabs on the various junior teams that have talent knocking on the senior national team door.”
Hauptle 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 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.
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