Zambia provide coach Nora Häuptle absence ahead of WAFCON

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has come out to clarify the absence of women’s national team coach Nora Häuptle as the team steps up preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco for the third consecutive time.

In a statement issued on Saturday, FAZ confirmed the assigning of Copper Queens assistant coach Charles Halubono to be in charge of the team during the Three-Nation Tournament in Malawi.

FAZ General Secretary Machacha Shepande disclosed Copper Queens coach Nora Häuptle could not travel to Lilongwe as she fell sick in her home country. Machacha explained Häuptle, who was scheduled to travel from her home country of Switzerland, couldn’t make it because she felt sick.

Halubono has since been tasked to take charge

“Coach Nora was supposed to link up with the Copper Queens contingent that had left Lusaka for Lilongwe yesterday, but she informed us she felt under the weather, making her pull out of the 3-nations tournament,” Machacha said as quoted by FAZ Media.

Machacha further disclosed Halubono has since been tasked to take charge of the lasses during the three-nations tournament.

“FAZ has since wished Coach Nora a quick recovery as the Copper Queens continue to prepare for the WAFCON,” concluded the FAZ statement.