The Federation of African University Sports (FASU) has extended its warmest congratulations to the University for Development Studies (UDS) following their 2-1 victory over Brazil's Paulista University at the 2025 FISU World University Football Cup — a first in the competition’s history for any African university.

Ezedeen Alhassan scored in extra time to complete a comback for UDS.

The Ghanaian side had to dig deep after Gabriel Viera stunned them with a goal in the opening 30 seconds of the match.

But UDS refused to bow out, with captain Asigre Sulemana striking late in injury time to level the score.

In a statement released on September 28, FASU praised 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.

FASU highlighted that the team’s performance not only demonstrated athletic excellence but 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).

More significantly, the win has earned African universities additional slots 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.

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“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.”

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