Zambia's preparations for WAFCON 2026 have been thrown into disarray amid conflicting reports over the status of head coach Nora Häuptle. While multiple outlets claim the Swiss tactician has resigned and filed a case with FIFA over alleged unfair treatment, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) maintains she remains in charge. Häuptle is reportedly seeking a $1 million compensation package linked to her contract, which runs until 2028. At the heart of the dispute are internal tensions, including her objection to assistant coach Enala Phiri's reinstatement after Häuptle had previously removed her from the technical team.
This is not the first rupture. A similar conflict arose in 2025 and was eventually resolved, but the recurrence so close to a major tournament raises serious concerns. The instability comes at a critical time, with Zambia drawn into a challenging WAFCON 2026 group alongside Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi—dubbed the 'group of death'. Nigeria, the most successful team in WAFCON history, defeated Zambia 5-0 in the 2025 quarter-finals in Casablanca. After that match, Häuptle admitted her team was outplayed both physically and tactically. Ahead of the latest crisis, she had stated Zambia needed to "hunt" Nigeria, but now her own position is under threat.
When Nora Häuptle says Zambia must "hunt" Nigeria, it reveals how deeply the psychological gap between the teams has grown—especially after a 5-0 defeat. Now, with her leadership collapsing amid financial demands and internal disputes, Zambia's focus has shifted from strategy to survival. For the Super Falcons, this chaos offers a clear advantage: they face a rival already unraveling before a ball is kicked. Stability in camp and proven firepower make Nigeria the overwhelming favourites to dominate this group.
