In a significant move within women’s football, Nora Hauptle, aged 41, has turned down a contract extension from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to become the new head coach of Zambia’s Copper Queens. The announcement was made on December 21, 2024, and Hauptle is anticipated to be officially introduced by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) next week.

Hauptle’s tenure with the Black Queens of Ghana began in 2023 when she took over from Mercy Tagoe. Prior to her role with the senior team, she was the technical advisor for Ghana’s U20 women’s national team, the Black Princesses, during the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup held in Costa Rica.

Her decision to move to Zambia signifies the end of her time with Ghana, as she seeks new challenges with the Copper Queens. Following the news of her transition, Hauptle used her social media platforms to voice her concerns regarding the preparation of Ghana’s national team for future competitions.

In her post, she stressed the critical need for game exposure, saying:

“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 underscore a persistent issue within Ghanaian football regarding the preparation for international tournaments. Hauptle’s critique highlights the necessity for enhanced, structured, and competitive training to boost the team’s performance on the global stage.

Her departure from Ghana to Zambia is not just a change in coaching roles but also a reflection on the broader challenges of national team preparations in African football.