Ghana’s Black Queens aiming for World Cup return under coach Hauptle

Ghana’s Black Queens head coach, Nora Hauptle, has set her sights on returning the team to its former glory and qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Black Queens, once a dominant force in African women’s football, have seen their fortunes dwindle in recent years. However, since Hauptle’s appointment, there are signs of a resurgence.

“Our mission is to get back to number one in Africa,” declared Hauptle, referencing the Black Queens’ past success at the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in 1999, 2003, and 2007.

“We even qualified for the World Cup at one point, and we want to bring ourselves back to that level.”

Hauptle acknowledges the recent achievement of qualifying for the Women’s AFCON again. She emphasises the importance of challenging themselves against the best: “It’s important to measure ourselves against the top ten teams in the world,” she said, referring to their upcoming friendly match against Japan this weekend.

The match against Japan on Saturday at the Kanazawa Go Go Curry Stadium will be a crucial test for the Black Queens as they strive to reclaim their position as a powerhouse in African women’s football.