Hauptle emotional after Zambia’s WAFCON qualification

The Zambia women’s football team coach Nora Häuptle shared her emotions of overseeing her team’s qualification to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals on Sunday.

The Copper Queens sealed their place at the continental finals scheduled for Morocco early next year with a commanding 3-0 victory over Namibia in Ndola.

Fans, packed in Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, greeted the final whistle of the final qualifying round, second leg match with song and dance. The Swiss trainer and her players joined the party on the pitch, a sight the former Ghana’s Black Queens coach said left her in near tears with emotions.

“There were emotions out there. I think we fully enjoyed this game. It was a complete game.  We were dominant. I am so proud. I am satisfied with my team. Celebrating with the fans was for me the most touching thing, so I am still in the emotions,” Häuptle told the Zambia Football Association media.

The coach, who succeeded Bruce Mwape months ago, dedicated the victory to all football-loving Zambians.

“It is not about me. It is about the players. The national team belongs to the fans, the spectators and the people,” the coach added.

How Zambia booked their ticket to the WAFCON finals

Zambia qualified the WAFCON finals with a 7-2 aggregate score after having won 4-2 the first leg match played in South Africa last week.

Just as was the case in the first leg played in South Africa last week, it was stand-in captain Rachel Kundananji who stepped up to the plate. The Bay FC striker scored once to make it four goals in three games following her first leg hat-trick.

Kundananji scored from Grace Chanda’s corner -kick in the 21st-minute. Some eleven minutes later, Eneless Phiri added the second goal for the hosts to go to the break leading 2-0.

The Copper Queens sealed the dominant performance with a third goal from Patricia Chilufya in the 47th minute.

Häuptle’s girls were without injured captain Barbra Banda in the two crucial qualifying matches.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.