Black Queens coach Nora Hauptle has revealed her emotional reaction to Ghana’s qualification for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), shedding tears of joy for the team’s achievement.
Ghana, once considered a dominant force in African women’s football, faced a significant decline after failing to qualify for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations following a disappointing performance in the 2018 edition.
Hauptle’s arrival late in 2022 brought a turning point for the team. Initially joining as a technical advisor for the Under-20 team, she later took charge of the senior team in January 2023.
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Under her leadership, the Black Queens experienced a remarkable transformation, winning Hauptle’s first nine games without conceding a goal and scoring 31 goals in the process.
Despite suffering her first defeat in the final round of qualifying for the 2024 Women’s Nations Cup, Hauptle’s greatest achievement to date came with the team’s qualification for the tournament after a six-year absence.
Ghana secured their spot in the competition with a nervy 1-0 defeat in the return fixture against Namibia, following a 3-1 victory in the first leg in Accra.
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Reflecting on the team’s qualification, Hauptle expressed her emotional response, acknowledging the pressure and expectation placed on her to deliver results.
“I’m also human, you know,” she said to BBC. “It was a big pressure and you know you need to deliver. Of course it was a big release.”
The WAFCON is scheduled to take place later this year, providing an opportunity for Ghana to showcase their progress under Hauptle’s
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“I learned a lot about myself as Black Queens coach”- Nora Hauptle also reveals
Black Queens coach, Nora Hauptle, also opened up on her time as coach of the female senior national team of Ghana.
The Swiss trainer led Ghana back to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after an incredible run during the qualifiers, where she lost only a game.
The Black Queens were on the verge of advancing to the final round of qualifiers for the Olympic Games when Babara Banda netted late to deny Ghana.
Despite the mini setback, Hauptle is proud of her journey with the Black Queens as she draws her play for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later this year.
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“I knew when I jumped in there that I would have the resilience to survive [and] I would learn a lot about myself,” she told the BBC.
“For me, the interest behind it maybe sounds ridiculous for others but I learned the most in this whole journey about myself.”
The Black Queens had missed the last two editions of the WAFCON before Hauptle took over as coach.
The team is hoping to make a good mark at the continental stage as Ghana chases its first-ever women’s title.
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