In the wake of Ghana's heartbreaking elimination from the 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers at the hands of Zambia, Black Queens coach Nora Häuptle expressed a mix of disappointment and reflection on her team's performance.
The first leg of the qualifier saw Zambia emerge victorious with a narrow 1-0 win at the Accra Sports Stadium, putting Ghana on the back foot early in the series. Despite the setback, Häuptle remained optimistic, believing her team had the capacity to turn the result in the return leg.
However, the return leg in Ndola proved to be another tough battle for the Black Queens. Although they managed to draw 3-3 with Zambia, it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit from the first leg. The aggregate scoreline of 4-3 in favor of Zambia sealed Ghana's fate, dashing their hopes of progressing in the qualifiers.
"We offered them a little bit of a better start but I think we worked back into the game and it was all open this game to be honest it in the last minute we had 2,3 chances shots getting blocked," she said after the game.
"I cannot blame my team they haven't done anything wrong it was all good finally in the last minute free kick yes it is football so I don't blame my team I don't think a lot of things went wrong.
"We just need to learn and get more of these high pressure games it is a very young squad a very hungry squad and they have talent and as a head coach I am very proud I love my team,"