Black Queens coach Nora Hauptle has voiced her satisfaction with her team’s performance, refusing to assign blame despite their elimination from the 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers by Zambia.
In the aftermath of a hard-fought battle, Hauptle maintained her unwavering support for her players, emphasizing their resilience and dedication.
Speaking to the press following the intense encounter, Hauptle analyzed the match’s dynamics, acknowledging, “We offered them a little bit of a better start, but I think we worked back into the game, and it was all open. In the last minute, we had 2, 3 chances, shots getting blocked.”
Despite the disappointment of falling short, Hauptle refrained from criticizing her team, stating, “I cannot blame my team; they haven’t done anything wrong. It was all good. Finally, at the last minute, a free kick, yes, it is football, so I don’t blame my team. I don’t think a lot of things went wrong.”
The initial leg at the Accra Sports Stadium saw Zambia claim a narrow 1-0 victory, setting the stage for a challenging return leg in Ndola. Hauptle remained optimistic about her team’s prospects, believing in their ability to overturn the deficit.
Although the return leg resulted in a hard-fought 3-3 draw, Zambia’s 4-3 aggregate victory ultimately sealed Ghana’s fate, ending their aspirations of progressing in the Olympic qualifiers. Despite the setback, Hauptle’s support for her players remains steadfast as they shift their focus to future endeavors.
