Bruce Mwape (born 26 October 1959)[1] is a Zambian football coach who is currently the head coach of the Zambia women's national football team.

Bruce Mwape
2023 as the coach of the national women's team
Personal information
Date of birth 26 October 1959
Managerial career
Years Team
2018– Zambia (women's)

Career

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Mwape was appointed as head coach of the Zambia women's national team in May 2018 succeeding Albert Kachinga who returned to club football.[2]

He would lead the team in the 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.[3] The Copper Queens was not able to advance out from the group stage.[4]

Zambia would qualify for the women's football tournament of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo which was later postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The did not manage to progress to the quarterfinals after losing two and drawing one of its three matches in the group stage.[6]

Mwape would coach the team again in the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. This time the Zambians finished third place, their best ever finish in the continental tournament.[7] They also secured a berth in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after they progressed to the semifinals – their first ever qualification.[8]

Controversies

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In July 2023, ahead of the World Cup, allegations of sexual misconduct in 2022 against Mwape surfaced.[9] Mwape has denied the accusations.[10][11]

The allegations, reported by The Guardian, accuse the coach of inappropriate behavior towards one of the players before Zambia's Women's World Cup match against Costa Rica. FIFA confirmed that they were investigating the matter following a complaint. However, FAZ stated that they have not received any complaint from players or officials in their World Cup delegation and have no footage supporting the alleged misconduct.[12]

In May 2024, Mwape was again accused of sexual assault, this time on a FIFA employee during the World Cup.[13]

In July 2024, he was banned from private contact with his players at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, while FIFA continued to investigate claims that he had rubbed his hands over a player's chest at the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand.[14][15]

Honours

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Zambia

References

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  1. ^ "Bruce Mwape". www.tntsports.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  2. ^ "Zambia: Mwape Appointed New Shepolopolo Coach". All Africa. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Zambia: Mwape names Shepolopolo team for 2018 Womens AFCON". Lusaka Times. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  4. ^ "AWCON Exit Saddens Coach". Daily Nation Newspaper. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  5. ^ "History Beckons as Zambia Face European Champions the Netherlands at Olympics". Daily Nation. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Olympics football: End of the road for Banda-led Zambia after Brazil defeat | Goal.com". Goal.com. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Zambian Women's Football: How She-polopolo Are Riding The Crest Of Success". FIFA. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  8. ^ "AWCON 2022: Zambia's Mwape after sealing World Cup slot – 'It feels like the tournament is over' | Goal.com". Goal.com. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  9. ^ Aarons, Ed; Molina, Romain (8 July 2023). "Zambia women's football team head coach accused of sexual misconduct". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Zambia women's football coach Bruce Mwape denies sexual misconduct allegations". RNZ. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Bruce Mwape: Zambia FA 'surprised' over misconduct claims against women's team head coach". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  12. ^ "Bruce Mwape: Zambia FA 'surprised' over misconduct claims against women's team head coach". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  13. ^ "Football. L'entraîneur de l'équipe féminine de Zambie de nouveau accusé d'agression sexuelle". Ouest-France (in French). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  14. ^ Aarons, Ed (2024-07-18). "Bruce Mwape banned from private contact with Zambia players at Olympics". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  15. ^ Anzidei, Melanie. "Zambia faces USWNT at the Olympics hoping to cause one of the great upsets". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  16. ^ "Zambia claim maiden Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship title". COSAFA. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
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