Swiss coach Nora Hauptle has been officially appointed as the new head coach of the Zambia women’s national team replacing the long-serving Bruce Mwape.
According to a statement released by FAZ this afternoon, the 41-year old former Ghana national team coach has agreed to be at the helm of the Copper Queens on a three-year contract until 2028.
“We are excited to announce the appointment of Nora Hauptle as the new Zambia Women National Team coach. We have every reason to believe that she has the pedigree and profile that will take us to the next level,” FAZ Secretary General Reuben Kamanga said.
Kamanga added that FAZ had opted to engage Hauptle in a bid to improve the Copper Queens’ performances in their chase for honours.
“Her duty is to consolidate on the gains made in our women’s game in the last few years that has seen us win bronze at the WAFCON, qualify to a maiden FIFA World Cup in 2023 and back-to-back Olympic qualifications,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kamanga has thanked, on behalf of FAZ, the departing Bruce Mwape who had been in charge of the Copper Queens since 2018 and led the team significant success.
“We also wish to thank Bruce Mwape for the work done since his appointment in 2018 which has seen the team qualify to the World Cup and two Olympics (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024). He remains a core member of our wider technical development program as we secured a CAF Pro License course for him as part of our collaboration with the Royal Morocco Federation. He will become the second Zambian coach to undertake the CAF Pro License after Wedson Nyirenda,” he said.
Prior to her appointment, Hauptle had been in charge of the Israel and Ghana women’s national teams between 2021 to 2022 and 2023 to 2024 respectively.
Hauptle is expected to lead the Copper Queens at the upcoming 13th edition of the 2025 Total Energies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to take place from July 5 to July 26, 2025 in Morocco.
