Former Copper Queens Coach Bruce Mwape Dies at 67

 

Former Copper Queens Coach Bruce Mwape Dies at 67

Former Copper Queens head coach Bruce Mwape has died at the age of 67.

News of Mwape’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes across social media, with many Zambians remembering him as one of the country’s most successful football coaches.

Mwape played a transformative role in the growth of women’s football in Zambia, helping to elevate the Copper Queens to continental and global recognition. He will be remembered as the architect of Zambia’s rise in women’s football and a coach whose work inspired a new generation of female players.

Under his leadership, the Copper Queens qualified for major international tournaments and recorded historic achievements. His greatest milestone came when he guided Zambia to its first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance at the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

He also led the Copper Queens to consecutive Olympic Games appearances, first at Tokyo 2020 and later at Paris 2024, further cementing Zambia’s place on the global football stage.

Mwape also guided Zambia to three editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where the Copper Queens continued to make steady progress against some of Africa’s strongest teams.

At the 2022 WAFCON in Morocco, he led Zambia to a historic bronze medal, the country’s best-ever finish at the continental championship. That achievement helped establish the Copper Queens among Africa’s elite women’s football teams.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to sport, President Hakainde Hichilema honoured Mwape with the President’s Insignia for Meritorious Achievement during Zambia’s 61st Independence Anniversary celebrations. The award recognised his exceptional service to the nation through football.

Beyond the trophies, qualifications, and medals, Mwape leaves behind a lasting legacy in the development of women’s football in Zambia. His dedication helped change perceptions about the women’s game and inspired countless young girls to pursue football.

His death has been received with deep sadness by the football fraternity, supporters, and the nation at large. He will be remembered as a trailblazer whose contribution to Zambian and African women’s football will endure for generations.