Copper Queens head coach Nora Häuptle has offered a measured and forward-looking assessment after Zambia suffered a 5-0 loss to Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the 2024 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

 

Speaking during the post-match press conference at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Häuptle acknowledged the tactical shortcomings that contributed to the defeat, particularly Zambia’s vulnerability in aerial duels and defending set pieces.

 

“We have not been in control in the air, these set pieces. So there we need to find and definitely look for a solution,” she said. “We knew that Nigeria would deliver a lot of crosses… still, we need to admit there is a lot of room to improve.”

 

Trailing 3-0 at halftime, Zambia made several tactical adjustments in an effort to claw back into the match. However, the changes fell short against a well-drilled Nigerian side. Häuptle emphasized that the loss should be seen as a shared responsibility across both players and technical staff.

 

“None of us has been on top. I think it was a collective loss. We share the victories and we also fall for the same cause,” she said.

 

Despite the disappointment, Häuptle reiterated her confidence in Zambia’s football development and called for more structured pathways to help young talents gain valuable international experience.

 

“How can we develop for our talents a better pathway so that they can go a bit early abroad?… We need to ensure that the path of our talents goes abroad, maybe in a league where they also get playing time,” she explained.

 

With the 2026 WAFCON qualifiers against Namibia just months away, Häuptle says the focus will now shift toward rebuilding and preparing for upcoming challenges.

 

“The evolution is visible. But still, 10 games (in charge of the team) is not enough, we need big pictures. The more games we have, the more we can develop,” she said.

 

Encouraging fans and stakeholders to remain hopeful, Häuptle concluded on an optimistic note: “We are on the growth, we are in good development… We are here to hunt. We will also hunt in the next tournament. So we are hungry.”

 

Zambia’s exit from the tournament marks a moment of reflection, but also a reaffirmation of their commitment to becoming a competitive force in African women’s football.