Copper Queens Aim for Victory Against Senegal as Coach Häuptle Backs Tactical Edge
Zambia’s Copper Queens are gearing up for their second Group A clash at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with head coach Nora Häuptle expressing confidence in her side’s readiness to take on Senegal.
Coming off a thrilling 2-2 draw against tournament hosts Morocco, Häuptle praised her team’s tactical discipline and overall performance, noting that match statistics favored Zambia.
“We recovered well from the opening game. Our video analysis and performance indicators show we should have won,” said the Swiss tactician. “We gave Morocco the possession, but we controlled key aspects — defending, transitions, and creating chances.”
Zambia faces a different test against a physically robust Senegal side that overwhelmed DR Congo 4-0 in their opener. Häuptle acknowledged Senegal’s strengths but remains optimistic about Zambia’s ability to adapt.
“Senegal has different attributes. We expect a physically strong opponent, so we’re adjusting our defensive approach accordingly,” she explained. “Against Morocco, we were smart and disciplined. We’ll apply the same principles with the right tweaks.”
The coach emphasized Zambia’s strength in counter-attacking play, calling it one of the best in the tournament.
“Our transitions are among the strongest at WAFCON,” she said. “We plan to hurt them in those moments, while also building more initiative in possession.”
In terms of injuries, Häuptle offered positive updates on goalkeeper Catherine Musonda and winger Xiomara Mapepa, who missed the Morocco match but participated in recent training sessions.
“Catherine and Xiomara trained with the team. We’ll assess their progress ahead of the match to determine if they’ll be in the lineup,” she stated.
Having faced Senegal before, Häuptle is familiar with their squad, which includes players from top European clubs such as Olympique Marseille.
“They are tall, physically strong, and technically improving. It’s a well-rounded squad,” she noted.
As the Copper Queens eye their first win of the tournament, Häuptle remains grounded in her performance-driven philosophy.
“We had 12 shots, eight on target, and lots of touches in the box against Morocco. The stats show we dominated. We should’ve been up 4-1,” she concluded. “But that’s football. We’re staying focused and confident that the performance will bring the results.”
Zambia will face Senegal on Wednesday, July 10, in what promises to be a pivotal match for Group A standings.
