The Federation of African University Sports (FASU) has congratulated the University for Development Studies (UDS) after clinching a landmark victory at the 2025 FISU World University Football Cup.
The feat, the first in the competition’s history for any African university, came after UDS’ dramatic 2-1 victory over Brazil’s Paulista University in the final on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
The Ghanaian side went down within the first minute of the game and had to dig deep after Gabriel Viera stunned them with a goal in the opening 30 seconds of the match.
However, with determination, the Ghanaian students from UDS refused to bow out, with captain Mohammed Sulemana striking late in injury time to level the score.
The team saw a second goal in the extra time when the Ghanaian side scored directly from a corner kick which deflected into the net from Paulista University’s goalkeeper.
FASU, in a statement on Sunday, commended UDS and the wider Ghanaian university sports community, hailing the triumph as a moment of immense pride for the entire continent.
“On behalf of the entire African university sports family, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you, the University for Development Studies, and the wider Ghanaian university sports community on your historic victory,” the statement read. “This achievement is a source of immense pride not only for UDS and Ghana, but for Africa as a whole.”
The victory, which saw UDS crowned champions after an intense final match, has been widely lauded as a transformative moment for African university sport.
Aside from the victory implying athletic excellence, FASU noted that it also reflected the strength of leadership at UDS, the unwavering dedication of coaches and players, and the solid backing of the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA).
The statement further added that the victory has paved way for extra slots for African universities in the 2026 edition of the tournament, — a development FASU called a “true milestone.”
“Beyond winning the trophy, your success has secured additional slots for African teams in next year’s edition, opening greater opportunities for our continent to shine even brighter on the global stage,” the statement added.
FASU also paid tribute to key individuals behind the victory, including UDS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Seidu, and Head Coach Tanko Ibrahim.
“We salute you, your students, and the entire UDS community for flying the African flag so high. May this victory inspire even more growth, confidence, and excellence in university sports across our continent.”
