By ZR Reporter
Former Copper Queens head coach Bruce Mwape has died at the age of 67.
Social media platforms have since been flooded with messages of grief and tribute following the news of Mwape’s death.
Mwape was one of Zambia’s most successful football coaches, whose achievements transformed women’s football in the country and elevated its profile across Africa.
Mwape will be remembered for guiding the Copper Queens to unprecedented success on the international stage, becoming the architect of Zambia’s rise in women’s football.
Under his leadership, the national team qualified for major global tournaments and inspired a new generation of female footballers.
His greatest achievement came when he led Zambia to its first-ever 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, marking a historic milestone for the country.
He also guided the Copper Queens to consecutive Olympic Games appearances at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Mwape further cemented his legacy by qualifying Zambia for three editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where the Copper Queens continued to make significant progress against some of the continent’s strongest teams.
At the 2022 WAFCON in Morocco, Mwape guided Zambia to a historic bronze medal, the country’s best-ever finish at the continental championship, while helping to 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 acknowledged his exceptional service to the nation through football.
Beyond the trophies and qualifications, Mwape leaves behind a lasting legacy of developing women’s football in Zambia and inspiring countless young girls to pursue the sport.
His dedication played a pivotal role in changing perceptions of women’s football and raising Zambia’s profile on the international stage.
His death has been received with sadness by the football fraternity, supporters, and the nation at large, who will remember him as a trailblazer whose contribution to Zambian and African women’s football will endure for generations.
Zambia Reports | 9th July, 2026