It appears Zambia is enduring a difficult time transitioning from ‘Chipantepante’ to a more coordinated play under Nora Häuptle. The team has recorded a third defeat under her reign.
This afternoon, the team was beaten 2-0 by Banyana Banyana to bring their tour of South Africa to a losing end, days after they drew 1-all against Botswana.
Exactly 31 days before the WAfCON kicks off, Hauptle has little time to implement her playing philosophy of patiently building up from the back, from a much more direct play that the team was accustomed to under Bruce Mwape.
In today’s game, everything looked good with the Copper Queens managing to keep it level until 15 minutes before the close of the game.
“Performance. Well, I think the first half belonged to us,” Häuptle said in her assessment of the team’s showing. “I think we had good control in defence, in the midfield press and entered into some good transitions out of it.”
Häuptle also felt that her key players did not play their level best football today. “We need to admit that today our top players have not been at their best level. That can happen. It’s not that we accept it, but we need to take this result as it is.”
South Africa, who defeated Zambia in the semi-final of the 2022 WAfON, took the lead in the 75th minute thanks to defender Bongeka Gamede from a well-taken free kick.
It was not long before the hosts doubled the lead to extinguish any hopes of a Zambia comeback.
A defensive lapse at the back saw Jermaine Seoposenwe extend Banyana Banyana’s lead from close range.
Hauptle will be hoping the team can have more engagements before they kick off the WAfCON with hosts Morocco. She is confident the team will be ready before the opening match on July 5, 2025.
“We entered a pre-camp in Zambia and afterwards an international pre-camp. So there’s still another game to prepare. I think we’re going to head quite close to the start of the tournament in Morocco, but there is still enough time to work on the details and build our confidence.
“I am pretty sure we will be ready for Morocco in the opening game,” she said.
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