The University for Development Studies (UDS) football team has returned to Ghana after making history as the first African university to win the World University Football Championship.

UDS were crowned world champions following a thrilling 2-1 extra-time victory over Brazil’s Paulista University (UNIP) in Dalian, China, on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

The team received a rousing welcome at the Kotoka International Airport on Sunday afternoon, October 5, where fans, students, families, and government officials gathered to celebrate their remarkable achievement.

The jama team from UDS keeps building the excitement ahead of the FISU World University Games champions’ arrival#JoySports pic.twitter.com/ZaDHAirBUo

— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) October 5, 2025

Preparations are underway for an official reception to honour the players and technical team for their outstanding performance on the global stage.

The team is expected to present the prestigious trophy to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

UDS’s triumph over the defending champions marks a historic milestone — the first time an African university has lifted the title. The victory has sparked nationwide celebrations and is being hailed as a major boost for youth development in sports.

Many have described UDS’s success as proof of Ghana’s growing capacity to nurture world-class athletes through a blend of academic excellence and sporting discipline.