Copper Queens Coach Häuptle Looks Ahead to Namibia Clash and Future Growth After WAFCON Exit

Despite Zambia’s painful 5-0 defeat to Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024, Copper Queens coach Nora Häuptle remains optimistic and focused on the future.

Speaking in the aftermath of Friday night’s loss, Häuptle stressed the importance of regrouping quickly as the team turns its attention to upcoming international assignments, particularly the second-round WAFCON 2026 qualifiers against Namibia scheduled for October.

“On the pitch already, I was speaking to the players about what comes next,” Häuptle revealed during the post-match press conference. “In October, we face Namibia in the second round. We expect a sold-out home stadium for the return leg. The crowd in Zambia is on another level, it’s crazy, and we want to give them something to cheer about.”

In addition to the Namibia qualifiers, the Copper Queens are planning at least one high-level international friendly in December, with an eye on boosting experience and squad cohesion ahead of a busy 2026 qualifying calendar.

Häuptle highlighted the need for regular, competitive matches as part of Zambia’s long-term development strategy.

“This was just our 10th or 11th match together as a team,” she said. “In the bigger picture, that’s not much. The more we play, especially at high levels, the more we’ll grow. We’re still building.”

While acknowledging the gap in quality between Zambia and traditional powerhouses like Nigeria, particularly in areas such as physicality, aerial dominance, and squad depth, Häuptle said the focus now shifts to systematic growth and player development.

“We need to ensure that our young talents get the chance to play abroad earlier. That’s where the evolution happens. It’s about building paths that allow them to take those steps before the big stage.”

Zambia exited the tournament after a promising group stage that saw them finish second in Group B. Although the loss to Nigeria was emphatic, Häuptle reiterated that it would serve as a valuable learning moment for the team.

“It’s tough to go out this way, but this is part of our journey. We’re still hungry. We’ll keep hunting,” she concluded.

The Copper Queens will now return home to regroup and begin preparations for the critical Namibia qualifier as they continue their quest to remain a top force in African women’s football.