A Historic Night in Dalian, China
The University for Development Studies (UDS) of Ghana has made history by winning the 2025 World University Games football tournament. UDS defeated defending champions Paulista University of Brazil 2-1 in a thrilling final watched by nearly 23,000 fans in Dalian, China. This victory makes UDS the first African university to win the global tournament since its creation.
Early Shock, Strong Comeback
The final began with heartbreak for UDS as Paulista’s Gabriel Viera scored within the opening 30 seconds after a defensive mistake. But coach Ibrahim Tanko’s side stayed calm and took control of possession, creating chances though struggling to finish.
Their persistence paid off in stoppage time when captain Asigre Sulemana equalized in the 93rd minute after Frimpong’s shot was parried by the Brazilian goalkeeper Silva. The late strike sent the match into extra time.
Extra Time Drama
Both teams pushed for the winner in extra time, but it was UDS who showed greater resilience. In the 121st minute, Ezedeen Alhassan’s corner slipped through Silva’s hands into the net. The dramatic goal sealed the historic win for UDS and sparked wild celebrations from the Ghanaian bench.
Road to Glory
UDS’s journey to the title was built on resilience and teamwork. They topped their group unbeaten, eliminated Kyungil University of South Korea in the quarterfinals, and survived a tense penalty shootout against University of Granada (Spain) in the semifinals.
This triumph crowns a golden year for the Tamale-based university, who had already won the Ghana Universities Games and the Africa University Games earlier in 2025.
What This Means for Africa
UDS’s victory is not just a win for Ghana but for the entire continent. It proves that African universities can compete with and defeat the best in the world when given the right support and investment.
For UDS, this moment will inspire future generations of student-athletes to dream bigger, while for Africa, it signals a new era of university sports excellence.
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