Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council member Leanier Addy has criticised ex-Black Queens coach Nora Häuptle as “overhyped” and praised the strides made by the national team under new head coach Kim Lars Björkegren.
Speaking in an interview with Asempa FM, Addy reflected on Ghana’s impressive performance at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where the Black Queens reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2006.
“We overhyped Nora Häuptle,” Addy said. “If you check Nora’s credentials and compare them to other Ghanaian coaches who have handled the national team, they were far ahead of her.”
Häuptle, a Swiss tactician, parted ways with the Ghana FA in January 2025 after her contract expired. She was later appointed head coach of the Zambian women’s national team, but her side was eliminated in the WAFCON quarter-finals following a crushing 5-0 defeat to Nigeria.
By contrast, Ghana’s current coach Björkegren, who took charge in February, has guided the Black Queens to an impressive run that ended narrowly in a penalty shootout loss to hosts Morocco in the semi-finals.
Addy believes Björkegren deserves more time and support to continue building the team’s progress. “We should give this coach more time with the team. And we need to organise more international friendly matches for the ladies,” she appealed, adding a call to the Ministry of Youth and Sports to invest in the team’s preparations.
The Black Queens will now turn their focus to the third-place playoff against defending champions South Africa on Thursday, July 25. Meanwhile, Morocco will meet Nigeria in the final on July 26 in Rabat.
Despite missing out on the final, Ghana’s spirited display has rekindled hope in the women’s game and sparked fresh conversations about the coaching choices and long-term support needed to push the team to continental glory.
