The Zambia coach accused of sexual misconduct at the 2023 Women’s World Cup has been replaced but will remain part of the national team setup “in an advisory role”.
Bruce Mwape remains under investigation by Fifa after allegations that he intentionally touched on a breast one of its contractors working closely with the Zambia team during the tournament in New Zealand and that he rubbed his hands over the chest of a player after a training session. Mwape has denied the accusations and was allowed to continue in his post by the Football Association of Zambia.
He took charge of Zambia’s debut at the Olympics last year but was banned from private contact with his players after he was initially denied a visa by French authorities. But with elections looming at the FAZ, it is understood that external political pressure has been growing on its president, Andrew Kamanga, to remove Mwape.
Nora Hauptle, a former Switzerland midfielder who has previously been in charge of Ghana’s women’s team, has replaced Mwape. “We have every reason to believe that she has the pedigree and profile that will take us to the next level,” Kamanga said.
He also paid tribute to Mwape for leading Zambia to a first Women’s World Cup and said the 65-year-old “remains a core member of our wider technical development programme” and will attend a Confederation of African Football pro-licence course in Morocco. “Mwape will be reassigned to our junior teams, where his expertise will be utilised in an advisory role,” Kamanga said.
Zambia are among the favourites for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July despite three defeats in the group stages at the Olympics, when the FAZ was threatened with suspension by Fifa after accusations of money-laundering offences against Kamanga and “undue influence by third parties”. They were allowed to participate after he was cleared and Kamanga will attempt to secure a new term as president in March’s elections.
