Latest news with #TotalEnergiesCAFWomen'sAfricaCupofNations2024
CAF
6 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
Nora Häuptle (Zambia): 'There is no elevator to success.'
With a clear and effective method, Nora Häuptle relies on discipline, active listening, and a deep focus on collective values to help her team grow Around stars like Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji, Zambia is built on a united, humble squad deeply rooted in its heritage The goal is to win the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 and etch the Copper Queens into the history books of African football She arrived in Lusaka with her whiteboard, her Swiss accent, and above all, her clear ideas. Since January this year, Nora Häuptle has been the new head coach of the Copper Queens. At 41, the former Ghana national team coach has taken the reins with one clear ambition: to transform a talented group into genuine contenders for the continental title. The challenge is massive. Their first test came in February against Malawi (a 2–3 loss), and in April, they made good on promises during a tournament in China. Slowly but surely, a sense of cohesion is building around a united squad and a game identity that's taking shape. 'We're taking it step by step—there's no elevator to success,' says Häuptle, clear-eyed and already fully invested in the Zambian project. In a football-mad country, the Swiss coach quickly found her footing. With leaders like Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji - international stars yet deeply rooted in their culture—Häuptle promotes humility and high standards. She listens, consults, decides. And above all, she unites. A few weeks out from the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2024, Zambia is clearly stating its ambitions. Drawn into a challenging group alongside Morocco, DR Congo, and Senegal, the team moves forward with one goal in mind: to bring the trophy home. Because here, everyone believes. Nora Häuptle most of all. You took over Zambia in January. How have your first months been at the helm of the Copper Queens? Nora Häuptle: Thank you. I started on January 1st. In February, we played two matches against Malawi, and in April, we took part in an international tournament in China. So far, the journey has been good. We've mainly focused on our playing principles and a slightly refined style. The players are very open-minded. What surprised you most about Zambian football and your players? What struck me the most is the incredible passion. People in Zambia are crazy about football. Wherever I go, even outside of a professional setting, people approach me and share their love for the game. There's a deep connection to football and a shared vision: to bring a trophy home with the women's team, just as the men's team did in 2012. In fact, I sense even more excitement around the women's national team than the men's. These emotions and this passion drive me deeply. How have you built your relationship with this squad, especially key players like Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji? It's an honour for me to work with such exceptional players. We have incredible talent on this team, but what impresses me most is their humility. On a human level, they're very grounded, deeply connected to their roots—even though they're superstars. That comes through in small gestures. For example, in February, the training fields were in poor condition. I expected them to complain, but they didn't say a word. They trained with full commitment. I appreciate that they never forget where they come from, that they support their communities, and that they are role models. For my part, I try to engage with them as equals—collaboratively, always open to their input. Of course, I have to make the final call, but for now, I feel a very strong bond and deep commitment within this group. You coached Ghana before Zambia. You clearly have a deep investment in African football. What makes it so special to you? For me, it's a privilege to work in Africa. There's a vast reservoir of talent—not just in the players, but in the potential for overall development. With Zambia right now, I genuinely feel there's a chance to raise the level of the game. I enjoy playing the role of 'developer'—taking teams to the next level. And then there's the incredible passion for football. I've also learned so much culturally. I strive to stay open-minded, because it's a true exchange: I give, but I also receive so much. I'm deeply inspired by the continent's history and its people. I really want to continue this journey here. This upcoming TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2024 will be your first. What does it mean to you professionally and personally? Yes, it'll be my very first WAFCON, my first major tournament on the continent. With Ghana, I had qualified the team after three years of work. That was a great journey. Now I have the pleasure of participating with Zambia. For me, it's a kind of fulfilment. It's also a chance to prove our worth at the highest level. We've invested so much into this team, with so much passion. And in Zambia, we all share one vision: to bring a trophy home. That's a huge motivation for me. I just want to make sure we move forward step by step, with curiosity and enthusiasm. I can't wait for the tournament to begin. Zambia will be in Group A with Morocco, DR Congo, and Senegal. What's your analysis of the group? It's a fairly diverse group in terms of playing styles. I know Senegal a bit from my time with Ghana. They're a very physical team, with technically skilled players. Many of them play in France, a physically demanding league. DR Congo is home to the current CAF Women's Champions League winners (Editor's note: TP Mazembe), which means a strong club foundation. Often, these clubs form the backbone of the national team. So we're expecting a tough, combative match there. As for Morocco—you can clearly see the results of their federation's investment, for both men and women. Their game is more possession-based. Zambia recently played them in Olympic qualifiers, so we're familiar with their approach. How do you manage the collective pressure? Yes, expectations are high. But personally, I don't read much of what's said around us—I try not to let outside pressure into my mind. I always come back to the small daily steps of our work. I know there's no elevator to success, only stairs. I prefer to focus on our performance. I always say: if we work hard on our performance, results will follow. So I stay focused on that. How do you build unity in a team that's increasingly under media scrutiny? I think we've built an inner life unique to our group, and that's our focus. For me, team stability is rooted in its values. We're still in that process—defining our values together, understanding what they mean concretely, and then living them daily. I believe that when that foundation is strong, even if there are ups and downs in performance, we never lose what matters most. We can lose a game, yes—but we must never lose our values. Coming back to that base helps us face pressure with greater composure. How do you balance the experienced internationals with the young talents from the local league? Recently, our U17 team qualified for the World Cup, which proves the depth of talent we have here. We do have some very gifted young players, and I'm gradually bringing them into the senior setup. For me, it's the squad as a whole that matters. We need to build a system around our key players. We have some outstanding individuals, so the challenge is finding a way to make them work together effectively on the pitch while maintaining team cohesion. For example, during the tournament in China in April, some of our key players couldn't travel. It was an opportunity to give game time to younger players—and I believe in them. They stepped up. For me, it's all about finding the right balance. Coach, you're still young, but let's talk legacy. What do you hope to leave behind in Zambian football? I only started at the beginning of the year, so I'm not thinking much about legacy yet. But the vision of the country—and the players—really inspires me: to win a trophy. That's a clear goal. Beyond that, I'd also like to be remembered as a good person, someone who stayed true to her values. Someone who shared her passion for football, but also someone who inspired others, both in sport and beyond—here in Zambia.
CAF
6 days ago
- General
- CAF
Alex Malete (Botswana): 'Our minimum target is the quarterfinals'
A former radio analyst, trained teacher and FIFA instructor, Alex Malete wants to make Botswana a serious contender Appointed head coach in 2023 after years as an assistant, he's brought a new level of discipline to the Mares' preparations Botswana will face Nigeria, Algeria and Tunisia in Group B of the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 He no longer wants Botswana to be seen as mere participants. At just 35 years old, Alex Basimanebotlhe Malete is determined to shake up the hierarchy of African women's football. He's not just dreaming he's planning. He's not there to take part he's there to compete, to be seen, to break through barriers. Promoted to head coach of the Mares in 2023 after several years behind the scenes as assistant coach, Malete wasted no time in making his presence felt. Gone are the days of half-hearted preparations and excuses around lack of experience. Under his leadership, everyday matters, every session is carefully planned, every friendly is treated as a proper test. 'Not reaching the quarterfinals would be unacceptable,' he states clear-eyed but ambitious. And it's not just talk. Despite his youth, Malete speaks from experience. He knows this team inside out, having been part of it for years. He started off as 'just' the assistant. Now, he's the one in charge. And his unconventional background is his greatest asset: a former radio analyst who turned his attention to the pitch, a qualified teacher and a passionate FIFA instructor focused on youth development he represents a new wave of African coaches. With a clear approach, a youth-focused strategy and a bold message, he's determined to do better than in 2022, when Botswana surprised many by reaching the quarterfinals before falling to Morocco (2-1). But this time, the element of surprise is gone. Malete is open about his goal: he wants to make his team one of the continent's powerhouses. As the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 approaches, the team enters a critical phase of preparation. Under Alex Malete, Botswana moves forward with method and ambition no longer just to participate, but to make an impact. How would you assess your team's preparation for this TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON? Alex Malete: I'd say we're in the final stages of our preparation. We're starting our camp today, and we're waiting for all the players to join us. The good news is that one of our players, who was out for the whole of last year due to injury, is finally back. That's a big plus for us. Starting today, we'll focus on our next two matches against South Africa and Zambia. These two international friendlies will help us assess our current level. In terms of fitness, we know most of our players are not yet where they should be. In 2022, during your first appearance, Botswana reached the quarterfinals. What lessons have you taken from that experience? We learnt a great deal. It was a first for everyone the players, the technical staff, the federation. One key lesson was around how we handled conceding goals, and especially the mental preparation of the players, particularly when facing teams like Nigeria. You could sense even before kick-off that mentally, we weren't ready for them. Since then, we've grown. I believe we're better equipped now to compete without being overawed by the occasion. We've faced high-level teams. In the upcoming FIFA window, we'll play Zambia and South Africa. In the past, we've played Tunisia (who are in our group), Mali, Morocco, and even Russia. These matches have helped us progress, both in terms of our game and our results. There's another key difference: during our first campaign, we only did one fitness test before the tournament. This time, we're doing two. We did the ALIA physical evaluation in January, and we'll do another right before the competition to tailor the training for each player's needs. This time, Botswana is in Group B with Nigeria, Tunisia and Algeria. What's your take on this group? All the groups are tough in my opinion. There's no easy group. If you look at Group A, it's even more competitive because it includes the host nation. Group C has the defending champions. In Group B, like last time, we've got Nigeria again. Nigeria's playing style is very different from Algeria or Tunisia. The latter two are very tactical, whereas Nigeria combines physical power with tactical discipline. So, we've prepared to face both types of opponents. Now we need to find a way to qualify for the next round. Let's talk a bit about you. You were a journalist before becoming a coach. How has that past experience helped in your coaching career? It's helped a lot. I started out in radio as an analyst. Then I moved into print and TV, which gave me the chance to observe and analyse matches, systems, team dynamics... It gave me a broader perspective on football, beyond the emotion of the pitch. As a journalist, you learn to ask the right questions and see things others might miss. That's helped me develop a critical eye, which is valuable now in evaluating our performances, preparing for matches, and even managing the group. I believe that this unique journey is one of my strengths as a coach today. How do you work to build a bridge between youth categories and the senior national team? We rely mainly on our youth national teams. Over the past year, we've integrated several players from the U20 squad. It's harder with the U17s, because they still have their own camps and are mostly in school. Balancing school, junior competitions, and the senior team is tough for them. But with the U20s, many are no longer studying, which makes things easier. As soon as we spot promising talent, we do everything we can to bring them into the senior team. Even if they don't play much at first, they get to learn about the environment, the culture, and the expectations. It's all part of preparing for the future. In your view, what would constitute a successful TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON for Botswana? A successful campaign would be reaching at least the quarterfinals. From there, we can start dreaming about the semi-finals. But honestly, not making it out of the group stage would be a failure for us. The goal is clear: to get to the quarters at minimum. Do you think this tournament could be a steppingstone to more international recognition for your players? Absolutely I truly believe that. The difference between us and countries like South Africa is that most of their players are in professional leagues. Why? Because they regularly play in CAF competitions, FIFA tournaments and the Olympics. For us, this second WAFCON appearance is a golden opportunity. It puts our players on the radar of scouts and professional clubs. The more girls we have playing professionally, the stronger our national team becomes. This tournament offers real exposure. If we do well, as we hope to, it could open many doors for our players. Final question, coach. What message would you give to a young African girl who dreams of becoming a footballer? My message is simple: your dreams are valid. A young African girl can make it in football. The examples are there: Barbara Banda is shining at the highest level. The Chawinga sisters from Malawi are playing in top leagues. Across North and West Africa, many others are succeeding too. And to parents and society at large, I'd say: let's change the perception that football is only for men. Football is for everyone.
