The Ghana Football governing body has announced the appointment of former Swiss International Nora Häuptle as the new head coach of Ghana’s Senior Women’s National Team, The Black Queens. Nora comes in to replace Mercy Tagoe.
The 39-year-old former Swiss International is a product of the University of Bern where she obtained her Master’s in Sports Sciences. She holds a UEFA Pro License.
In a statement released by GFA COMMUNICATIONS reads;
“Nora Häuptle has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Senior Women’s national team – otherwise known as Black Queens.
The 39-year-old former Swiss International is a product of the University of Bern where she obtained her Masters’s in Sports Sciences – also a Bachelor of Philosophy and a Minor in Theatre Sciences.
Nora holds a UEFA Pro Licence certificate and has previously worked as an Instructor for the Swiss Football Association.
She holds other Diploma Certificates such as UEFA Mentorship Hope Powell – Brighton and Hove Albion FC, CAS Sports Management – the University of St. Gallen and Shalkeh 04, Athletics Coach – Swiss Football Association and Swiss Tennis, Strength and Conditioning – Swiss Olympic team, Olympic Weightlifting – Swiss Olympic team as well as EXOS Level I & FMS and Sailing and Motoboat Licence.
She played for BSC Young Boys, FFC Zuchwil 05, FC Twente Enschede, FC Thun, and the Swiss national team between 1996 and 2010. From 2009 to 2012 she was a coach at FC Thun and later worked as a conditioning coach for Tennis player Romina Oprandi.
Nora previously worked with the Israeli Football Association as Head Coach and Women’s Director for the national team and also had a stint with SC Sand 1946 – a German Women’s Bundesliga club.
She will be assisted by Joyce Boatey-Agyei and Aboagye Dacosta.
Joyce Boatey – Agyei is a physical Education Tutor and Coach of Kumasi Girls Senior High School and a former Coach of the Girls’ U-15 national team.
Aboagye Dacosta is a former player of Asante Kotoko and Head Coach of the Women’s Premier League Club Ashtown Ladies in Kumasi.
The Black Queens will soon move to camp to begin preparations towards the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the third edition of the WAFU Zone B Women’s Cup of Nations 2023 in March/April this year”
Ghana football
The Black Queens played their first international match against their West African counterpart Nigeria in Lagos on 16th February 1991. The Queens were defeated 5-1 by Nigeria.
Their heaviest win came against Guinea where the Black Queens hammered their Guinean counterpart 13-0 on 11th July 2004.
However, the Black Queens have also been on the receiving end of some embarrassing defeats. On 22nd July 2016, the Black Queens were annihilated 11-0 by Germany in Paderborn.
The Black Queens were the first senior national team in Ghana to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in the country’s history in 1999. They have played in a total of 3 World Cups 1999, 2003 and 2007 being the last time they appeared at the Women’s World Cup.
They have also participated in 10 African Women’s Championships and their first was in 1991. Their best performance in the competition has been runner-up on three occasions 1998, 2002, and 2006.
The Black Queens failed to qualify for the previous edition of the African Women’s Championship and it has become necessary for managers to change the technical direction of the team.
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