Mahama rewards UDS football team with GH¢500,000 for World University Games win

President John Dramani Mahama has rewarded the University for Development Studies (UDS) football team with an amount of GH¢500,000 for winning the FISU World University Football Games in China.

He commended the team for their historic achievement after they defeated Brazil’s Paulista University 2–1 in the final to become the first African university to lift the trophy.

“The presidency is also pleased to present you with something. We won’t let you go empty-handed. So this is GH¢500,000. It is a reward to the team for the good job you have done,” he stated.

He made the announcement when the team, together with management of the university, paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House.

President Mahama further disclosed that the government is establishing a School Sports Authority to oversee and develop sports from the basic to the university level.

“My government, through the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ministry of Education, is working to strengthen youth and university sports systems to ensure that talented students or athletes are identified, developed, and supported to reach professional levels,” he said.

“We are setting up the School Sports Authority, which will concentrate on sports from the basic level to the secondary level to the university level,” he added.

UDS captured global attention after staging a dramatic comeback in the final. Despite conceding within the first 10 seconds, captain Mohammed Sulemana equalized in stoppage time before Ezedeen Alhassan sealed victory with a spectacular goal from a corner kick in extra time.

The victorious team returned home on Sunday, October 5, 2025, to a rousing welcome at the Kotoka International Airport.

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