The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has appointed Swiss coach Nora Häuptle as the head coach of their senior women’s national team, the Copper Queens, on a two-year contract according to reports.
Häuptle, 41, will join the Copper Queens following her tenure as head coach of Ghana’s Black Queens, where her contract expired without renewal.
She initially took over the Black Queens in 2023, succeeding Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo, who had been in charge since 2019.
During her time with Ghana, Häuptle led the Black Queens to qualify for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and secured the 2023 WAFU Zone B Women’s Cup title.
Under her leadership, the Black Queens displayed significant improvement, including a strong performance in the Women’s Olympic qualifiers, where she missed out narrowly to her soon-to-be new employer, Zambia.
Despite the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) offer to extend her contract, Häuptle declined and opted for a new challenge with Zambia.
Her appointment comes after FAZ parted ways with former head coach Bruce Mwape.
The decision was finalized during a FAZ Executive Committee meeting on December 21.
Häuptle is set to be officially unveiled next week and will earn a monthly salary of $7,000.
Before her stint with the Black Queens, Häuptle served as a technical advisor for Ghana’s U-20 women’s team during the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
