Copper Queens coach Nora Häuptle says the just-ended camp focused on finding solutions to the team’s defensive shortcomings.

The Copper Queens have kept only one clean sheet in their last five matches, a situation that has left Häuptle concerned.

“First of all, it was to bring the players into shape fitness-wise. We did fitness testing, a lot of running, and many small-sided games to ensure they improved their fitness levels,” Häuptle explained.

“Secondly, the objective is that we want to reduce the number of goals we concede because we are always good at scoring, but we are conceding nearly 1.6 goals on average per game. This is too high and we need to halve it. Usually, a successful team concedes around 0.8 goals on average,” Häuptle added.

In their last five games, the Copper Queens have conceded nine goals and scored 11, translating to an average of 1.8 goals conceded per match.

Häuptle said it was a clear objective to work on the defence, adding: “We need to improve our defending, especially box defending. That was a main target of this camp. The third point is that we also want to be a bit more flexible in our tactical approach,” she concluded.

Zambia is preparing for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026, in Morocco. The Copper Queens have been drawn in Group C alongside Nigeria, Malawi, and Egypt.

The tournament will also serve as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the semi-finalists earning automatic qualification for the global showpiece.

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