Copper Queens Have What It Takes to Win WAFCON, Says Bwale

Former Zambia Coach Believes Upcoming Four-Nation Tournament Could Be Key to Title Ambitions

Former Copper Queens head coach Charles Bwale believes Zambia has a genuine opportunity to challenge for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title and says the upcoming Four-Nation Tournament will play an important role in the team’s preparations.

The competition, scheduled to take place in Ndola, will feature Zambia alongside Kenya, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, offering the Copper Queens valuable match practice ahead of the continental showpiece.

With Nora Häuptle expected to lead the team during the tournament, Bwale feels the event arrives at the perfect time for the technical bench to assess players and fine-tune strategies.

Ideal Opportunity for Team Building

According to Bwale, the tournament provides an excellent platform for the coaching staff to strengthen team chemistry and experiment with different tactical approaches.

He noted that while the competition may not feature some of Africa’s traditional powerhouses, the participating nations are capable of providing meaningful tests for the Copper Queens.

Bwale pointed out that Kenya, one of the teams involved, has already secured qualification for the upcoming WAFCON and should offer quality opposition.

“This tournament gives the technical team a chance to work on combinations, tactical systems and overall team cohesion,” he said.

Focus on Confidence and Preparation

The former Zambia coach believes the Copper Queens should use the tournament to build confidence ahead of their continental campaign.

As the highest-ranked side among the participating teams, Zambia will enter the competition with expectations of strong performances, but Bwale insists the primary objective should be preparation rather than results alone.

He feels the matches will allow the players to sharpen their understanding on the pitch while giving the coaching staff an opportunity to identify areas that still require improvement.

Zambia Capable of Going All the Way

Bwale remains convinced that the current generation of players possesses enough quality to compete for Africa’s biggest women’s football prize.

He highlighted Zambia’s recent success on the continental stage, including a third-place finish at WAFCON, as proof that the team can challenge the best nations in Africa.

For Bwale, the key ingredients for success will be proper preparation, a winning mentality and maintaining belief throughout the tournament.

Eyes on Continental Glory

The former coach believes the Copper Queens have already shown they can compete at the highest level and sees no reason why they cannot aim for the ultimate prize.

Having previously established themselves among Africa’s leading teams, Zambia will head into the next WAFCON campaign determined to make another strong statement.

Bwale believes that with the talent available in the squad and the right approach from the technical bench, the dream of lifting the WAFCON trophy is well within reach.