WAFCON 2024: Tournament will be very special for Black Queens – Nora Hauptle
Black Queens head coach Nora Hauptle says the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nation (WAFCON) will be ‘very special’ as it will serve as the first and last experience for some of the players.
Ghana sealed a spot at the tournament to be staged in Morocco next year a 3-2 aggregate win over Namibia earlier this month.
The Queens are making a return to the WAFCON for the first time after last participating in 2018 when it was held in Ghana.
The team arrived from Namibia on Thursday, December 7, following the second leg of their game against the Brave Warriors earlier in the week.
Quizzed on the importance of qualification to the team, the Swiss trainer said: “The first step to achieve [after we started Mission Volta] was the WAFCON qualifiers. We have done that.
“I am very proud of my players. [For] some of them, it’s probably the last WAFCON, for some it’s a first. It will really be a special tournament for all of us.”
Hauptle burst into tears after the final whistle in the second leg fixture against Namibia in Pretoria with videos circulating on social media.
During the #BlackQueens presser yesterday, Nora Hauptle talked about the defensive discipline of Namibia’s team. Credit to them so far after 15 minutes as they have limited Ghana’s attack. 0-0 pic.twitter.com/iH2kdK2OCz— Lawrence Baidoo (@kweku_lawrence) December 1, 2023
The gaffer said the emotions were a sign of relief after loads of pressure.
“You need to understand that we made a lot of sacrifices for this work. We adore to play for Mother Ghana,” she added.
“You get a lot of pressure. Once it’s released, of course, there are emotions. It’s the beauty of our sport that we can also share those emotions with the spectators.
“For me, it was a big relief.”
The Black Queens will return to action in February 2024 when they take on Zambia in their quest to seal qualification for the Olympic Games to be staged in Paris.
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