“Disrespect to Players”: Zambia Coach Häuptle Blasts 2026 WAFCON Postponement

By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo

Head coach of the Zambia women’s national football team, Nora Häuptle, has strongly criticized the postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, describing the decision as a sign of “disrespect” to everyone involved in the competition.

Speaking via a post on LinkedIn, Häuptle expressed deep frustration over the late change to the tournament schedule, which she believes undermines the efforts of players, coaches and national associations across the continent.

“We need to state clearly the disrespect to all participating players, coaches, teams, associations, fans, and stakeholders,” Häuptle said.

The tournament, originally scheduled to kick off in March 2026, was pushed back to July-August 2026, a decision taken by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after consultations with stakeholders.

The abrupt postponement has triggered widespread criticism across African women’s football, with players, coaches and officials arguing that repeated disruptions continue to undermine the growth and professionalism of the women’s game on the continent.

Häuptle, who previously coached the Ghana women’s national football team before taking charge of Zambia’s Copper Queens, said her team had already prepared extensively for the tournament before the sudden schedule change.

According to the Swiss tactician, the delay has also created logistical challenges for Zambia, leaving the team without international opponents during the current international window and forcing the technical crew to rely on internal training sessions instead.

Despite the disruption, Häuptle confirmed that Zambia will participate in the FIFA Series 2026 in Brazil as part of their revised preparations, where they are expected to face high-level opposition including Canada women’s national soccer team, South Korea women’s national football team and hosts Brazil women’s national football team.

The WAFCON postponement has reignited debates about governance and planning in African women’s football, with many stakeholders calling for greater consistency and respect for players and teams as the competition continues to grow in stature across the continent.

Häuptle concluded by urging stronger institutional support for the Copper Queens, emphasizing that sustained investment and competitive exposure remain vital to maintaining the team’s progress on the international stage.