Prior to the 2023 FIFA World Cup in July, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) announced that American coach Lisa Cole, a former backroom coach of the Fiji Women’s National Team, had been appointed as a technical advisor to the Bruce Mwape-led Copper Queens coaching staff.
She was part of the team that stunned Germany 4-3 in a pre-World Cup match as well as the Copper Queens’ campaign at the World Cup.
Zambia had a nightmare debut World Cup, losing 5-0 to Japan and eventual winners Spain to exit in the group stage before winning a consolation match 3-1 against Costa Rica.
Following the tournament, Cole left the Copper Queens, who are now preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers.
FAZ has exclusively revealed to Bolanews that “Cole was contracted for the World Cup,” says communication manager Sydney Mugala. “Anything beyond that was always going to be a new arrangement. That was made clear at her unveiling before the World Cup.”
The Copper Queens will face Mali in the second round of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers in October.
The winner of that match will play either Ghana or Benin in the third round of qualifiers. That will be the final phase before securing a spot in next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
