By CoOSAFA Media Zambia head coach Nora Häuptle was full of pride after guiding the Copper Queens to qualification for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, following a commanding display in a 3-0 win over Namibia that sealed their place at next year’s continental showpiece. “Wow, there are so many emotions out there, goosebumps!” she said. “I think we fully enjoyed this game. This is what football is about: performing in front of our spectators, feeling their energy on the pitch. “We were willing to suffer for each other tonight, and I think we showed that we can raise the level of our football.” Zambia’s qualification, achieved with an 7-2 aggregate win, was secured with a near-flawless performance in front of a jubilant home crowd, with the Copper Queens’ attacking verve and defensive discipline overwhelming their opponents. Häuptle said it was as close to perfection as her side has produced in recent months. “It was nearly a complete game. I think we were dominant, maybe we could have scored even more goals, but I’m very satisfied with my team. The celebrations with the fans were the most touching thing. I’m still full of emotion. We already had a little party in the locker room, and I think we’ll continue.” Häuptle insisted the qualification was the product of a true team effort built on unity, belief and opportunity. “It’s not just a team built around one or two top players. Others are stepping up too, and we need to give them the space to grow. I think we’re doing very well there, we’ve already taken an important step forward.” The Swiss-born tactician, who has led Zambia through steady progress since taking charge, said she relishes the challenges ahead rather than fearing them. “Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about avoiding anyone in the draw. I never want to avoid a team, I love the challenge. Different teams bring different problems, and finding the right key is part of what I enjoy. I love to play anybody.” Häuptle also praised the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) for expanding the upcoming WAFCON to 16 teams, a move she believes reflects the continent’s rapid growth in women’s football. “CAF is expanding the tournament to 16 teams, and I think that’s very important. You can see other teams in Africa growing and performing. We played Malawi in February and they were outstanding. It’s good when the tournament gets bigger and more teams come in. I like this extension, maybe they can also expand the squad size, because today we only had 18 in the lineup.” The coach was quick to deflect attention away from herself, insisting the Copper Queens belong first and foremost to their supporters. “It’s not about me, it’s about the players. It’s a players’ game, and the national team belongs to the spectators, to the crowd, to the people. That’s what I believe. Of course, it’s an honour to lead this team. I try to stay balanced because as a manager you face many challenges and have to navigate through them. “But in the end, I’m human too, and when moments like this come, it’s emotional. A full stadium, great football, that’s what we live and work for.” Zambia’s tactical preparation once again proved decisive. The Copper Queens nullified their opponents’ direct play while capitalising on set-piece situations, an aspect Häuptle credited to her technical staff and players’ discipline. “We expected Namibia to come with a lot of high balls and long balls. So when we attacked, we had to stay organised in what we call our ‘rest defence’, making sure we could handle those long balls. I think we were very disciplined and stable. “Sometimes the plans just match the set pieces exactly as we train them. Our assistant coach told Grace yesterday, ‘You’ll get one,’ and tonight the ball was there, perfect.” As the Copper Queens booked their ticket to Morocco, Häuptle said the evening’s joy would serve as both celebration and motivation, a reminder of how far Zambian women’s football has come, and how much higher it can still rise. “A full stadium, great football, that’s what we live and work for. And tonight, we took the time to enjoy it fully.”
By Precious Bwale The Kitwe derby came alive and lived up to its billing with high intensity, endless action and two beautiful goals as the match ended in a 1-1 draw at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. Ever since Oswald Mutapa took charge of Power Dynamos, he has yet to taste a derby victory and that streak continues after the draw. Nkana struck first in the second half, taking the lead in the 67th minute thanks to a Lazarus Kambole goal. They controlled most of the early phases of the game, showing a strong response after going 10 matches without a win. Power Dynamos however kept pushing, grew stronger as the match went on, and found the equaliser in the 77th minute through Chifundo Mpansi’s sitter bringing life into the derby. Nkana’s winless run now extends to 11 games, while Power Dynamos take a point to continue their unbeaten run. Mutapa said it was a match played in moments with his team created more chances than Nkana. “It’s a game that we played in moments. Yes, in terms of creation of chances maybe we created five, with them one or two half chances. But you know a Derby,emotions ,you could see from the players the way they reacted. This is just the game. But two points dropped. We could have done better with the chances we had. But this is football, we move on,” he said. “In terms of performance, like I’ve said, we performed in moments. Of course in the second half energy levels went down. Nkana had a full week of preparation and we only had one day so it was always going to be difficult. But we were much better when we brought in others that were fresh and I feel we could have killed the game at that point,” he added. Before the game, Coach Mutapa said he wanted the team to play like champions. And he believes they showed character “Yes, when we went down, we came through and that’s what you need in a team. You go down, show character, and still come back. We could have won it today,” Mutapa told the ZamFoot Crew. Despite still not having a derby win under his belt so far during his time in charge of Aba Yellow the coach says he is not disappointed “I am not disappointed actually. We got a point. We went one goal down and got the result which has pushed us somewhere. For me it’s about the results not personal glory, it’s the result that the team needs,” he said. “Yeah, I think Nkana played very well. They played very well and hopefully they can continue playing like that. Nkana is a big team, and we want it in the Super League. But they need to ground results, not just in a Derby because others are waiting as well. It’s a difficult league, they just need to build on what they have gotten from this one.”
Zambian players were on song on Friday and Saturday with great performances, goals and assists. Kingston Mutandwa continued his goal scoring form while Patson Daka put in a full shift and set up a goal for Leicester City. Fashion Sakala was on target as well as Kings Kangwa who converted from 12 yards. Benson Sakala finally opened his goal account for his club with Miguel Chaiwa coming off the bench to score just after two minutes. Austria 🇦🇹 🎯👑 KING ON TARGET AGAIN Kingston Mutandwa scored the winner for SV Ried who edged BW Linz 2-1. Mutandwa also assisted the opener. Mutandwa has scored seven league goals so far in the Austrian Bundesliga this season and made 9 goal contributions (7 goals and 2 assists ). In the Czech Republic 🇨🇿, Benson Sakala opened his Bohemians Praha 1905 goal account, scoring the only goal of the game in the 1-0 win over Zlin. England 🏴 Chipolopolo striker Patson Daka assisted the equalizer scored by De Cordova-Reid as Leicester City came from a goal down to beat Norwich City 2-1 away at Carrow Road. Daka put in a full shift for the Foxes who ended a five match winless run. Israel 🇮🇱 Klings Kangwa scored from the penalty spot for Hapoel Be’er Sheva in a 2-2 draw with Ashdod in an Israeli Premier League Week 10 encounter. Midfielder Emmanuel Banda put in a full shift for Maccabi Bnei Raina in their 2-1 loss to Maccabi Netanya. Elsewhere, Golden Mashata and Hapoel Ranaana were held to a 1-1 draw by Bnei Yehuda. Kennedy Musonda’s Hapoel Ramat Gan played to a goalless draw with Hapoel Kfar Saba. In Italy, Lameck Banda put in a 77 minute shift for US Lecce in their goalless draw against Verona. Scotland 🏴 78′ Miguel Chaiwa introduced 80′ Miguel Chaiwa scores the third goal for Hibernian FC who beat St Mirren 3-0 in a Scottish Premiership encounter. 🎯He only needed two minutes to get his goal, talk of immediate impact. In Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 Fashion Sakala scored the second goal as Al Fahya beat Al Okhdood 2-0 in a Roshni Saudi Pro League encounter. The win takes Al Fahya up to 9th place with 11 points after 8 games. Sakala has made 3 goal contributions so far this season (2 goals and an assist). In Tanzania 🇹🇿, Chipolopolo midfielder Clatous Chota Chama scored Singinda Big Stars’ goal in their 1-1 draw with Pamba in a Tanzania NBC Premiership encounter. Chama has scored in 3 of his last four matches. Joshua Mutale started for Simba SC who cruised to a 2-1 win over JKT Tanzania.
Chipolopolo coach Moses Sichone has summoned a 41-member provisional squad for the back-to-back FIFA window friendly matches against South Africa and Burundi. Sichone handed debut calls to a number of local league standout players among them Zanaco’s Eliya Mandanji, FC Muza’s Solomon Mpasela, Kabwe Warriors’ Yoram Chanda and Mutondo Stars defender Aaron Musonda. The squad is a mix of seasoned campaigners and debutants and will be trimmed further after a three-day window prior to departure for South Africa. Zambia will play South Africa on Saturday in Port Elizabeth at the Nelson Mandela Stadium before trekking to Bujumbura for the November 18 clash with Burundi. The friendly matches are part of the Chipolopolo’s preparation for the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Zambia is in Group A alongside Morocco, Mali and Comoros. FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD (GOALKEEPERS) Mangani Banda (Kabwe Warriors), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco), Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos) (DEFENDERS) Owen Mwamba (Mufulira Wanderers), Stoppilla Sunzu (Yatai FC-China), Yoram Chanda, Killian Kanguluma (both Kabwe Warriors), Aaron Musonda (Mutondo Stars), Kabaso Chongo, Gift Mphande (both Zesco United), Benson Sakala (Bohemians 1905-Czech Republic), Mathews Banda (Nkana), Obinno Chisala (El Merreikh-Sudan), Lubambo Musonda (Magdeburg-Germany), David Hamansenya (Leganes-Spain) (MIDFIELDERS) Owen Tembo, Frederick Mulambia (Power Dynamos), Given Kalusa, Solomon Mpasela, Kelvin Mwanza (all FC Muza), Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian-Scotland), Humphrey Bweembya (Kabwe Warriors), Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be’er Sheva-Israel), Gift Siame (Leganes-Spain), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco FC), Kelvin Kampamba, David Simukonda (both Zesco), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari-Italy) (FORWARDS) Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Joseph Sabobo Banda (Hapoel Be’er Sheva-Israel), Rickson Ng’ambi (Muza FC), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha-Saudi Arabia), Pascal Phiri (Zesco United), Albert Kangwanda (Red Arrows), Patson Daka (Leicester-England), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat-Israel), Kingston Mutandwa (SV Reid-Austria), Elia Mandanji (Zanaco), Andrew Phiri (Singinda Black Stars-Tanzania)