Nora Hauptle Appointed Copper Queens Head Coach

04.01.2025 | Football DNA ⚽️

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has announced the appointment of Swiss national Nora Hauptle as the head coach of the Copper Queens on a three-year contract. According to a press statement issued on January 4, 2025, FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expressed confidence in Hauptle’s ability to build on the significant progress made in Zambian women’s football in recent years.

Kamanga reportedly stated that Hauptle’s appointment aligns with the association’s vision for the women’s game. He emphasized her responsibility to consolidate the team’s achievements, which include winning bronze at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), qualifying for their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, and securing back-to-back Olympic qualifications.

Hauptle’s Career at a Glance

The former Swiss international defender, who retired in 2009, had a distinguished playing career in Europe and represented Switzerland at the international level. After transitioning into coaching, she gained recognition for leading SC Sand in the German Frauen-Bundesliga in 2020, where she made history as the league’s only female coach at the time. She left the club in 2021 and later took over as head coach of Ghana’s Black Queens in 2022.

Hauptle’s unveiling as the Copper Queens coach is expected soon.

Acknowledging Bruce Mwape’s Contribution

Kamanga also addressed the transition of Hauptle’s predecessor, Bruce Mwape, acknowledging his significant contributions since 2018. Under Mwape’s leadership, the Copper Queens qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympic Games in both Tokyo (2020) and Paris (2024).

Mwape is set to take on a new role in Zambia’s developmental teams and will benefit from advanced coaching education. Kamanga highlighted that Mwape has been enrolled in a CAF Pro License program through a collaboration with the Royal Moroccan Federation, making him the second Zambian coach to pursue this certification after Wedson Nyirenda.

The Road Ahead

Hauptle’s immediate task will be to prepare the Copper Queens for the 2024 WAFCON, scheduled to take place in Morocco in July 2025. Her appointment marks a new chapter for Zambian women’s football as the team aims to build on its recent successes and achieve greater milestones under her leadership.

For and on behalf of the Football Association of Zambia,Sydney Mungala Communications Manager