How FAZ missed out on Ghanaâs Black Queens coach
đ No funds to compensate GFA
| ZamFoot | August 5, 2024 |
The Football Association of Zambia, FAZ were in pole position to prize away Ghanaâs Black Queens coach Nora Hauptle, it has emerged.
According to the ZamFoot Crew sources in Accra, the hiring of Hauptle was âalmost a done deal,â until FAZ made a u-turn.
Following Black Queensâ impressive performance against the Copper Queens in the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers in February, the Swiss coach was signed out and won plaudits for the way she outwit Zambia coach Bruce Mwape.
âContact was made between your FA and Noraâs handlers immediately after the second leg,â a ZamFoot Crew sources said.
âYour FA then took the next step to engage Ghana FA and a compensation package was agreed,â added the source.
âBut your FA (FAZ) u-turned on the deal as it is believed they didnât have enough funds to buy off Noraâs contract.
With the deal to bring Nora to Lusaka not materializing, FAZ had no option but to stick with Bruce Mwape for the Olympics.
In February, Nora said Zambia needed to improve their tactics.
Despite being eliminated by Zambia via a 4-3 aggregate, Ghana largely dominated both legs.
âThey have very good individual players but they need to adjust their tactical screws,â she said in a post match interview following the 3-3 draw on Wednesday in Ndola.
The Copper Queens knocked out Morocco in the final round of qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Zambia crashed out of the Olympics without recording a victory.
They lost 3-0 to USA before throwing away a 5-2 lead to lose 6-5 to Australiaâs Maltidas.
The Germans handed them a 4-1 thrashing in the final match.
There has been calls for Bruce Mwape to step down but their has been no indication from the former Nchanga Rangers coach.
Mwape is arguably Zambiaâs most successful coach on the international scene having guided the Copper Queens to two three Womenâs African Cup of Nations, two Olympics and a FIFA Womenâs World Cup since he took over in 2018.