Following the passing of former Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape, who died on July 9, 2026, captain Barbra Banda has disclosed that the team is planning “to do something for him” at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which runs from July 25 to August 16, 2026.
Mwape, who coached the Copper Queens from 2018 to 2025, was the first and only coach to guide Zambia to a WAFCON bronze medal, a debut FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance and back-to-back Olympic Games before he was replaced by Swiss coach Nora Häuptle.
“The passing of Coach Bruce is so heavy in our hearts, and we’ve lost not only a coach but someone who has taught us a lot of things on the football stage,” Banda said during CAF’s online media engagement, which featured some of the biggest names in African women’s football.
“But I can assure you that everything happens for a reason, and we are carrying it to the WAFCON,” the Orlando Pride striker, who has joined the Copper Queens camp, said.
Copper Queens in high spirits – Banda
Asked if Mwape’s passing had negatively affected the mood in camp, Banda said, “The girls and I, we’re good, though it’s very difficult to understand, but, you know, this is something that has happened unknowingly, and no one has expected it.”
She added: “So I think, we are going to the WAFCON with the heart of being with him. He’s always with us, and I think we just want to try to do something for him during the WAFCON which the team and I are thinking of.”
The Copper Queens have been drawn in Group C alongside defending champions Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi. They will open their campaign against Egypt next Monday in Rabat.
This year’s WAFCON will also serve as the African qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the top four teams earning qualification for the tournament in Brazil.
