Nora Häuptle Officially Unveiled as Copper Queens Coach

24.01.2025 | Football DNA

Nora Elizabeth Häuptle has been officially introduced as the new head coach of the Copper Queens. The Swiss tactician was unveiled during a press conference held on Friday morning at Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) confirmed Häuptle’s appointment on January 4th, shortly after the expiration of her contract with Ghana. The former Black Queens coach has signed a three-year deal to lead Zambia’s women’s national football team.

Häuptle succeeds Bruce Mwape, who guided the Copper Queens to historic achievements, including back-to-back Olympic qualifications and a bronze medal at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

A former defender with a distinguished playing career in Europe, Häuptle also represented Switzerland at the international level before retiring in 2009. Transitioning to coaching, she made her mark at SC Sand in the German Frauen-Bundesliga in 2020, where she was the league's only female head coach at the time. After departing SC Sand in 2021, she took up the role of Black Queens coach in 2022.

The Copper Queens have already secured qualification for the 2024 WAFCON, scheduled to take place in July 2025 in Morocco. Under Häuptle’s leadership, Zambia will aim to build on their recent successes and continue their rise in women’s football.

With her wealth of experience and proven track record, Häuptle’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the Copper Queens.