The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that Nora Hauptle has declined a contract extension and will be moving on to take up a new role as the head coach of Zambia’s Copper Queens. Hauptle, 41, is expected to be officially unveiled by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) in the coming week.
Hauptle’s journey with Ghana’s national team, the Black Queens, began in 2023 when she was appointed as the head coach, succeeding Mercy Tagoe. Prior to this role, she served as the technical advisor for Ghana’s U20 women’s national team, the Black Princesses, during the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
Her decision to leave the Black Queens marks the end of her tenure with the team as she looks forward to a new challenge with Zambia. This move comes as a significant development in her coaching career.
Hauptle’s Concerns and Thoughts
After the announcement of her departure, Hauptle took to social media to address concerns about Ghana’s preparation for upcoming games. She emphasized the importance of game exposure for the national team, stating:
“Providing our national team with as many high-performance game exposures as possible is key. Through these game experiences, we can work, learn, and grow as individuals and as a team. The difference in the number of games played in 2024 among participating teams for WAFCON 2024 (scheduled for July 2025) is significant.”
Her remarks shed light on the challenges faced by Ghana in terms of tournament preparation and highlight the need for structured and competitive preparations to ensure success on the international stage. Hauptle’s insights bring attention to the importance of adequate game experiences for players to develop and perform at their best.
As Nora Hauptle transitions to her new role with Zambia’s Copper Queens, the football community will be watching closely to see how she continues to make an impact in women’s football on the African continent.
