Swiss tactician Nora Häuptle is back in Zambia to lead the Copper Queens in the Four Nations Tournament against Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.
This marks the resumption of her role as Copper Queens head coach following a period of uncertainty about her future due to a dispute with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) over wages, tournament preparations, and coaching and administrative appointments.
Before taking the helm in Zambia in 2024, Häuptle was in charge of the Ghana women’s national team. In 2023, she propelled the Black Queens to their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in six years.
Häuptle was one of the best-rated women’s football managers on the continent, with her feat of being the only female coach in the 2020-21 German Frauen-Bundesliga campaign adding weight to her reputation.
She was the ideal candidate to replace Bruce Mwape, who seemingly ran out of ideas after leading the Copper Queens to a 2022 WAFCON bronze medal and FIFA World Cup and Summer Olympics qualifications.
Häuptle centres her tactical approach on possession control, disciplined positioning, proactive pressing, and well-coordinated transitions.
Pundits predicted Zambia’s best outing in the 2024 WAFCON better than third-best finish in 2022.
However, the Copper Queens suffered a 5-0 defeat to Nigeria in the quarter finals.
With not many individual errors to point to, most of the blame fell on the Swiss manager, who underestimated the firepower of the Super Falcons. In the aftermath of that result, some critics argued that Häuptle was struggling to integrate her football brand and playstyle into the Copper Queens.
Häuptle has a point to prove.
Eventually, the relationship between Häuptle and FAZ began to deteriorate, with the manager dissatisfied with how the team was handled while the FA questioned her commitment after she threatened to quit.
Häuptle is in Ndola preparing to host the Four Nations Tournament, where Zambia will face Kenya on June 6 in a semifinal before meeting either Zimbabwe or Lesotho in the final. After, the Copper Queens will turn their attention to the 2026 WAFCON to battle it out with defending champions Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi in July.
While positive dialogue played a big role in Häuptle returning to the Copper Queens dugout, she has unfinished business on the pitch. The 42-year-old has a point to prove, determined to show the Zambian faithful that she remains the right candidate to bring home the gold.
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