Minister of Sports Elvis Nkandu says he expects new Zambia women’s national team coach Nora Häuptle to lead the team to the 2024 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
On Saturday, FAZ appointed Häuptle as the new head coach of the Copper Queens to replace Bruce Mwape who had been in charge since 2018.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambia Daily Mail, Nkandu has welcomed the appointment of the 41-year old Swiss trainer who was last in charge of the Ghana’s womens’ national team.
“We support the appointment. It is a good choice and we will rally behind her. I did watch her when we played Ghana in the Olympics qualifiers and she is good,” Nkandu says.
Nkandu submitted that under Häuptle the Copper Queens should be able to go all the way and clinch a maiden WAFCON title and qualify as well as advance to the knockout stages of the next World Cup tournament.
“With her coming, we expect that we will go to the World Cup again and go past the group stage and win the WAFCON,” he declared.
The minister further urged Häuptle and her new technical bench to steer the Copper Queens to attaining their full potential and lead the team to loftier heights.
“My plea is to make sure we enhance and build on the momentum. I wish the appointed coach good luck and we wish to get more achievements,” he added.
Meanwhile, Nkandu has also paid tribute outgoing coach Bruce Mwape for his contributions to the Copper Queens during his tenure in which he led the team to historical back-to-back qualifications for the Olympic as well as the World Cup for the first time.
“I will also be failing in my duties if I do not recognize the good works Mwape did. Unfortunately everything has time and its time for Mwape to move on. I do wish him well in his journey,” he said.
FAZ have engaged Häuptle on a three-year contract to be in charge of the Copper Queens until January, 2028 with her immediate task being leading the team to the 2024 (to be played in 2025) WAFCON tournament to be held in Morocco starting in July this year.
