Nora Hauptle steps down as Copper Queens head coach

Copper Queens head coach Nora Hauptle has announced that she is stepping away from all her duties with Zambia’s women’s national team, confirming she will not travel for the upcoming FIFA Series in Brazil.

In a detailed statement shared on her LinkedIn page, the Swiss coach explains that her decision follows a “challenging year” working under the new Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) leadership, despite guiding the team to qualification for the 2026 WAFCON, which doubles as a World Cup qualifier.

“As leader and role model with a clear attitude I want to step out with a transparent statement,” she writes, grounding her message in the values of Love, Unity and Passion that she says have driven the team. Hauptle reveals she submitted a 10-point “manifest of 10 keys to sustainable success for the Copper Queens,” covering frequent high-level games, staff assessments, better use of technology, clear internal decision lines, and stronger budgeting and remuneration structures.

“To give weight to the manifest, I lay down all my duties as Headcoach and will not be part of the FIFA Series in Brazil,” she states, adding that she remains available “for further negotiations & dialogs” to help build a long-term Zambian Women’s Football Strategy. FAZ has separately cited administrative issues for her absence from Brazil.