Nora Häuptle was overhyped, says Ex-GFA Executive Council member Leanier Addy

Former Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Leanier Addy, has suggested that ex-Black Queens head coach Nora Häuptle was given more credit than she deserved during her tenure with the national team.

Her comments come in the wake of Ghana’s campaign at the ongoing 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where the team reached the semi-finals under new head coach Kim Lars Björkegren.

"We overhyped Nora Häuptle,” Addy told Asempa FM. "If you check Nora's credentials and other Ghanaian coaches who had handled the national team, they were far ahead of her."

Häuptle, a Swiss tactician who took over from Mercy Tagoe, stepped down in January 2025 following the expiration of her contract.

She opted not to renew her deal after two years in charge. Shortly after, she assumed the role of head coach for the Zambian women’s national team, who exited the tournament in the quarter-finals following a heavy 5-0 loss to Nigeria.

In contrast, the Black Queens, now led by Björkegren, progressed to the semi-finals but suffered a 4-2 defeat on penalties to hosts Morocco. Ghana will now face South Africa in the third-place playoff on Friday, July 25.

Addy called for greater support for Björkegren and urged the Ministry of Youth and Sports to arrange more international friendlies for the women’s team.

"We should give this coach [Bjorkegren] more time to be with the team, and we should have more friendly matches for the ladies. I am pleading with the Ministry for more international friendlies.”