Zambia coach reveals expectations ahead of their contest with Harambee Starlets

Zambia women’s national team coach Nora Häuptle says she expects a good game against Harambee Starlets in their Four Nations Tournament opener at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia on Saturday, 6 June.

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Häuptle, a Swiss national, is expectant of a new test for her Copper Queens, who she says will have to evolve defensively, to better deal with the threat their visitors will pose.

Speaking a day before the 4:00 pm (EAT) friendly match-up, Häuptle spoke of what she had observed from the Kenyan side, who will be looking for only their second win over Zambia, having won 3-0 in March 2018.

“Kenya we already observed one or two pictures and adjusted accordingly,” Häuptle, who previously managed Ghana’s senior women's national team (the Black Queens), said. “They [Kenya] have been on the FIFA Series playing Australia for example, and they are a country where they also do their investments in women's football, that have lifted them back to WAFCON.”

On the threat that the Harambee Starlets possess, the 42-year-old said: “They have some players abroad, some of them are very physical and tall players, which is a good thing for us, because we will need to evolve our air control defense-wise.”

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Zambia, who possess a cast of star players including Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda and Bay FC midfielder Racheal Kundananji, will ,however, be favored to excel in a contest that will pair them up with a nation ranked 64 places below them on the FIFA rankings.

"Of course we have our observations about Kenya, but then we must focus on us, because as you know its always about our development,” Häuptle, whose side will also be at next month’s WAFCON in Morocco said. “We know our strength, and we now will try to find their weakness to punish them in the right areas. I expect a good game tomorrow, given we had a good session in camp, and on the final day on the pitch.”

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Banda, speaking at an earlier presser, is of a similar opinion about Kenya, saying their challenge will offer a proper platform going into the cup of nations.

“Honestly, we are expecting good games during this Four Nations tournament because this time around, there are no push over teams in the game,” the 2024 African Women's Footballer of the Year said. “Looking at Kenya, they are also going to the WAFCON, so we expect tough games. Our aim is to go hard and be determined throughout the tournament and get the best results.”

In Saturday’s early kickoff, Zimbabwe will play Lesotho at the same stadium.