The Federation of African University Sports (FASU) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have showered praise on the University for Development Studies (UDS) following its historic victory at the 2025 FISU World University Football Cup in Dalian, China.
The Tamale-based institution stunned defending champions Paulista University of Brazil 2-1 in extra time to become the first African university to win the global tournament.
In a statement issued on September 28, FASU described the achievement as a collective source of pride for the continent and a defining moment for African university sports.
“On behalf of the entire African university sports family, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to UDS and the wider Ghanaian university sports community on your historic victory,” the federation said.
“This achievement is a source of immense pride not only for UDS and Ghana, but for Africa as a whole.”
The body emphasised that the win reflected not only athletic brilliance but also the leadership at UDS, the commitment of the players and coaches, and the support of the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA).
FASU further highlighted the broader impact of the victory, noting that it had secured additional slots for African universities in the 2026 edition of the championship.
“This is a true milestone,” the statement added.
The Ghana Football Association, in a separate statement, hailed the victory as a landmark for Ghanaian football.
“We are immensely proud of UDS for this historic achievement. Your victory in China underscores the quality and potential of Ghanaian football at all levels. It also affirms the importance of investing in grassroots and tertiary-level football to build a strong foundation for our national game,” the GFA said.
The Association revealed that it had followed UDS’s campaign closely, offering both material and logistical support.
Before the tournament, the GFA supplied the team with football kits and made the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram available for their residential camping programme.
As schools and colleges formally fall within the GFA’s structure, the body stressed that the success demonstrates the strength of Ghana’s educational football system.
The GFA further assured that it will continue to collaborate with schools, colleges, and universities to identify and nurture talents capable of progressing into professional football and national team setups.
“We will continue to work with institutions to provide opportunities for young players to shine. The victory of UDS is a signal that Ghana can compete and win at all levels when we commit to supporting grassroots and tertiary football,” it said.
The thrilling victory in China was sealed dramatically.
UDS conceded just 30 seconds into the final after a defensive mix-up allowed Paulista to score the fastest goal of the tournament.
However, the Ghanaian side displayed remarkable resilience, piling pressure on their opponents until captain Asigre Sulemana equalised in stoppage time.
In extra time, Ezedeen Alhassan’s inswinging corner beat the Brazilian goalkeeper in the 121st minute to seal the historic 2-1 win.
UDS’s path to glory also featured a tense semi-final against Spain’s University of Granada, where goalkeeper Emmanuel Edo emerged the hero in a 5-4 penalty shootout victory.
FASU praised key figures behind the triumph, including UDS Vice-Chancellor Professor Seidu, head coach Ibrahim Tanko, and the players whose determination carried Ghana and Africa to unprecedented heights.
For both FASU and the GFA, the victory represents more than a trophy — it signals Africa’s arrival on the global stage of university football and a fresh chapter in Ghana’s rich footballing history.
UDS’s success, they noted, is an inspiration for the next generation of athletes across the continent, proving that with vision, preparation, and resilience, African teams can conquer the world.
