Hauptle’s Challenge: Can She Lead the Copper Queens Beyond Bronze?
Four months into her reign as head coach of the Copper Queens, Nora Hauptle is already feeling the heat. The Swiss tactician took the reins from Bruce Mwape, a man who led Zambia’s women’s national team to some of their most historic milestones—including a bronze medal at WAFCON, a debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and back-to-back Olympic qualifications.
Now, with the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) just around the corner (scheduled for July 5–26), all eyes are on Hauptle to match—or surpass—that success.
Mixed Results in Early Matches
Hauptle’s early run has seen inconsistency on the pitch. In her first four games, Zambia recorded:
✅ 2-0 win vs Malawi
❌ 3-2 loss vs Malawi
❌ 3-2 loss vs Thailand
✅ 4-3 win vs Uzbekistan
While these results highlight attacking promise, they also expose defensive vulnerabilities—a concern as the Copper Queens prepare for tougher opposition in the tournament.
Hauptle’s WAFCON Vision: “Step by Step”
Speaking to the press, Hauptle acknowledged the expectations but emphasized a measured, process-driven approach to chasing WAFCON glory.
“The vision is to win the WAFCON and that is why I am here… But we cannot just announce that we are going to win—we need to know what steps to take to achieve our objective.”
She added that winning each match individually is the foundation of a successful campaign:
“We have to win the tournament per game… that is the graduation, and it gives us the objective.”
First Full Squad Gives Hoffnung
Despite the early setbacks, Hauptle finally has her entire squad available for the first time—an encouraging sign ahead of upcoming high-profile friendlies against Botswana and South Africa.
“We are very happy that we have the full power of the squad for the first time,” Hauptle said. “It makes me excited and looking forward to the two high-level games.”
Fitness, she stressed, would be key:
“It is an individual responsibility they would have to take—in pre-camp and at the group stage. We create a pathway… and when we do all those steps properly, yes, we have the potential of winning the WAFCON.”
A Legacy to Surpass
Bruce Mwape set a high bar with his achievements, but Hauptle is determined to build her own legacy with a clear structure, discipline, and gradual wins. With a talented squad featuring the likes of Grace Chanda, Barbra Banda, and Racheal Kundananji, Hauptle has the tools—but time is ticking.
Will Hauptle be the coach to take Zambia from bronze to gold at WAFCON 2025?
