Copper Queens head coach Nora Elizabeth Häuptle has admitted that Zambia faces a demanding task at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026, following a difficult Group C draw. The Copper Queens will compete against defending champions Nigeria, Egypt, and neighbours Malawi in what promises to be one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.
Speaking shortly after the draw, the Swedish tactician acknowledged the scale of the challenge but expressed excitement at the opportunity to test her squad against Africa’s elite. Häuptle believes the group stage will offer no margin for error, insisting Zambia must hit peak performance levels immediately.
“I know Nigeria well, so I’m excited. For me, it’s cool that we can start the tournament like this. We need to raise the bar suddenly to 100 percent. There is no warm-up time,” Häuptle said.
While Nigeria headline the group as record 10-time WAFCON champions, Häuptle was keen to warn against underestimating the other opponents, particularly Malawi. She highlighted the growing strength of the Flames Queens, noting their players’ exposure in top leagues abroad.
“A good group, but also Malawi — never underestimate Malawi. They also have top players in the NWSL and in France. So I expect very tough and tight games,” she added.
The Copper Queens coach believes progression from such a demanding group would significantly strengthen Zambia’s chances in the knockout rounds. According to Häuptle, surviving Group C could serve as a defining platform for a deep tournament run.
“When you surpass and survive this group, then you will get very strong in the knockout stage, of course,” she said.
Preparation, Häuptle stressed, will be decisive — particularly against a Nigerian side that has dominated African women’s football for decades. She revealed that Zambia plans to line up strong international friendly matches to fine-tune tactical approaches ahead of the tournament.
“We’re going to prepare as well, putting some good friendly games on the pitch to have a good strategy. Nigeria are many-time champions, so we see ourselves always in the position to hunt and chase. We’re going to prepare well,” Häuptle explained.
The coach also expressed optimism about squad depth, confirming that first-choice goalkeeper Hazel Natasha Nali has fully returned after nearly two years sidelined by injury. Häuptle believes Nali’s return significantly boosts competition and quality within the squad.
“Hazel Nali is back. I worked a lot in the last months to bring all those players back. Some overcame injuries, but now we have the whole squad together, and that’s a key element — especially raising the bar in the goalkeeper position,” she said.
Zambia’s WAFCON Journey
The 2026 WAFCON will mark Zambia’s fifth appearance at the continental showpiece, having previously featured in 2014, 2018, 2022, 2024, and now 2026. The tournament will also serve as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, adding further significance to the Copper Queens’ campaign.
The finals will be staged in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April 2026.
Conclusion
With a daunting Group C draw, the Copper Queens face one of their toughest WAFCON challenges yet. However, Nora Häuptle’s confidence, meticulous preparation plans, and the return of key players offer hope that Zambia can rise to the occasion and once again compete among Africa’s best
