Zambia Mourns as Former Copper Queens Coach Bruce Mwape Dies at 67
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has announced with deep sorrow the passing of former Copper Queens head coach Bruce Mwape, who died on the morning of Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Nchanga South Mine Hospital in Chingola following a short illness. He was 67 years old.
In a statement issued by FAZ Head of Media and Communications, Nkweto Tembwe, FAZ President Keith Mweemba described Mwape’s death as a tremendous loss to both the Zambian football fraternity and the nation.
“The death of Coach Mwape is a huge shock to the football family and the nation as a whole. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and can only wish them God’s strength at this difficult hour,” Mweemba said.
Mweemba praised Mwape for his immense contribution to Zambian football, particularly his remarkable achievements with the Copper Queens, whom he transformed into one of Africa’s leading women’s football teams.
During his tenure, Mwape guided Zambia to back-to-back Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, an achievement unmatched in the country’s football history. He also led the Copper Queens to a historic bronze medal at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and qualified the team for its first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
Appointed head coach in 2018, Mwape qualified Zambia for three consecutive WAFCON tournaments—2018, 2022 and 2024 (played in 2025)—cementing his place as one of the country’s most successful football coaches.
Before taking charge of the senior women’s national team, Mwape also served as coach of the Zambia Under-17 Men’s National Team in 2015, where he played a key role in developing young football talent.
According to his son, Chikonde Mwape, the veteran coach suffered a suspected stroke last week Tuesday and was admitted to hospital, where he later succumbed to his illness.
FAZ says it is working closely with the Mwape family in Chingola and will announce funeral arrangements in due course.
Bruce Mwape leaves behind a legacy that transformed women’s football in Zambia and inspired a new generation of female footballers to compete on the global stage. His leadership helped elevate the Copper Queens from regional contenders to a respected international team capable of competing with the world’s best.
As tributes continue to pour in from across Zambia and beyond, many have described Mwape as a humble leader, mentor, and visionary whose impact on the game will be remembered for generations.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
