The Copper Queens’ Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) preparations have suffered a setback after head coach Nora Hauptle was ruled out of the team’s pre-tournament assignment at the three-nation tournament in Malawi due to illness.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) General Secretary Machacha Shepande confirmed that Hauptle, fell ill and was unable to make the trip.
Nora Hauptl was expected to travel from her home country of Sweden to join the squad in Lilongwe.
“Coach Nora was supposed to link up with the Copper Queens contingent that had left Lusaka for Lilongwe yesterday, but she informed us that she felt under the weather,” Shepande said in a statement.
Assistant coach Charles Halubono will lead the team throughout the tournament.
“Halubono has since been tasked to take charge of the lasses during the three-nation tournament,” he added.
The Copper Queens will take on hosts Malawi on Sunday before winding up the preparatory tournament against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe registered a 2-1 victory over the scorchers of Malawi on Friday.
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