Zambia announce appointment of Nora Häuptle as new head coach of Copper Queens
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has confirmed the appointment of Swiss national Nora Häuptle as the new head coach of the Copper Queens on a three-year contract.
FAZ General Secretary, Reuben Kamanga, stated that Häuptle has been brought on board to build upon the successes achieved in the women’s football program over the years.
“We are excited to announce the appointment of Nora Hauptle as the new Zambia Women National Team coach. We have every reason to believe that she has the pedigree and profile that will take us to the next level,” Kamanga said.
“Her duty is to consolidate on the gains made in our women’s game in the last few years that has seen us win bronze at the WAFCON, qualify to a maiden FIFA World Cup in 2023 and back-to-back Olympic qualifications.”
The new Copper Queens coach had a distinguished career as a defender in Europe and represented Switzerland at international level before retiring in 2009.
She took up coaching and notably worked with SC Sand in the German Frauen-Bundesliga, in 2020, where she was, at the time, the only female coach in the league.
Häuptle left SC Sand in 2021 before she was appointed as Technical Adviser of Ghana's female U-20 team, Black Princesses in 2022, and later became head coach of the senior women's team, Black Queens.
Häuptle sealed Ghana’s return to the WAFCON for the first time since 2018 and was one game away from qualifying the team to their first-ever Olympic Games.
Her departure means the Black Queens are without a coach six months from the tournament to be staged in Morocco.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced the expiration of its contract with Häuptle. The association further thanked her and wished her well in her future endeavours.
"The GFA wishes to express its sincere gratitude to Nora Häuptle for her service to the Black Queens and Ghana Women's Football," a statement on the GFA website read.
Kamanga added that Häuptle’s predecessor Bruce Mwape will be re-assigned in a different capacity in the developmental teams.
“We also wish to thank Bruce Mwape for the work done since his appointment in 2018 which has seen the team qualify to the World Cup and two Olympics (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024). He remains a core member of our wider technical development programme as we secured a CAF Pro License course for him as part of our collaboration with the Royal Morocco Federation. He will become the second Zambian coach to undertake the CAF Pro License after Wedson Nyirenda,” he said.
The Copper Queens have already qualified for the 2024 WAFCON to be held in Morocco in July this year.
Nora Häuptle's Profile
Häuptle holds is a UEFA Pro Licence certificate and has previously worked as an Instructor for the Swiss Football Association.
Other Diploma Certificates include, UEFA Mentorship Hope Powell – Brighton and Hove Albion FC, CAS Sports Management – University of St. Gallen and Shalkeh 04, Athletics Coach – Swiss Football Association and Swiss Tennis, Strength and Conditioning – Swiss Olympic team, Olympic Weightlifting – Swiss Olympic team as well as EXOS Level I and FMS and Sailing and Motoboat Licence.
She played for BSC Young Boys, FFC Zuchwil 05, FC Twente Enschade, FC Thun and the Swiss national team between 1996 and 2010. From 2009 to 2012 she was coach at FC Thun and later worked as a conditioning coach for Tennis player Romina Oprandi.
Häuptle previously worked with the Israeli Football Association as Head Coach and Women’s Director for the national team and also had a stint with SC Sand 1946 – a German Women’s Bundeliga club.
She speaks German, English, French, Italian and Spanish.