WAFCON: Nora Häuptle wants Zambia to opt out of COSAFA

Zambia women’s national team coach Nora Häuptle has ruled out the team’s participation the COSAFA Women’s Championship so as to prepare for the for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

According to the former Ghana coach, Zambia should focus solely on doing well in the WAFCON and further emphasised on her desire to have the Copper Queens pitch camp in Dubai ahead of the tournament.

“My responsibility is the international camp and the WAFCON. To qualify for the World Cup, you always need to stay focused on the target you need to deliver,” Häuptle told reporters on Thursday as quoted by Bola News.

“The COSAFA is a senior tournament, but it’s colliding with the international FIFA window in February. It starts a week earlier and crosses one week of the international window. So, we are not able to send our international teams to COSAFA.”

Why Häuptle wants tournament in Dubai

On why she wants the Dubai camp, Häuptle said: “We outlined three steps to WAFCON. First, it’s the local pre-camp where we need to do a proper selection. In the second step, it’s the international window in February, where we need to have high-performance games to prepare us tactically and physically for the WAFCON.

“I outlined the tournament in Dubai because it’s a good mixture there. We have the top 35 teams. We have two African teams we can influence against whom we play to arrange a bit the setting that we will face at WAFCON in the group stage.”

She concluded: “So far, it’s [budget] not approved. So, we wait for the approval of the finances, and I really, there I demand really these games. We need it to be prepared, and we cannot compromise about it.”

Häuptle has already summoned 38 players including foreign based players whose leagues are on recess for a two-week local camp. Zambia have been placed in Group C alongside champions Nigeria, Malawi and Egypt.

Top four teams at the WAFCON will automatically qualify for the Brazil 2027 FIFA World Cup. Zambia made its historic debut at the FIFA Women World Cup in 2022 in Australia/New Zealand.

FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD

(GOALKEEPERS); Catherine Musonda (Red Arrows), Mwila Mufunte (Green Buffaloes), Hazel Nali (Zesco Ndola Girls), Eunice Sakala (Indeni Roses), Loveness Tonge (Green Eagles).

(DEFENDERS); Margaret Belemu (Red Arrows), Thelma Chellah, Justina Zulu (both Zanaco Ladies), Margaret Gondwe, Agness Musesa, Memory Nthala, Rachael Nachula, Esther Siamfuko (all Green Buffaloes), Blessing Maluba (Nchanga Queens), Xiomara Mapepa (Beijing Jingstan FC-China), Saliya Mwanza, Matildah Mukunda (both Elite Ladies), Judith Soko (Zesco Ndola Girls).

(MIDFIELDERS); Susan Banda (CekmekoyBilgidogga Spor-Turkey), Rhodah Chileshe (Indeni Roses), Avell Chitundu, Esther Muchinga (both Zesco Ndola Girls), Natasha Nanyangwe, Evarine Katongo (both Green Buffaloes), Ireen Lungu (Sichuan Jiangsu-China), Mary Wilombe (Red Arrows), Natasha Witika (Konkola Blades).

(STRIKERS); Ngosa Chabwe (Indeni Roses), Regina Chanda (Zanaco Ladies), Agness Phiri, Maweta Chilenga (both Green Buffaloes), Mercy Chipasula (Kamfinsa Police), Mary Mambwe (Red Arrows), Penelope Mulubwa, Eneless Phiri (both Zesco Ndola Girls), Kabanghe Mupopo (Wuhan FC-China), Ruth Muwowo (Amazing Grace), Samiah Phiri (Thonon Evian Grand Geneve-France).