University of Ghana football team manager, Daniel Opare has described the team’s triumph in the maiden 2026 Honda Football Championship as a significant achievement, while stressing the need to remain grounded about its global standing.
Speaking on Sports Night on Radio Univers after leading UG to victory in Tamale, Opare said the success should be viewed within a local and national context.
“To be honest and fair, we didn’t go to the World Championship, so enough respect to UDS. Every tournament has its challenges. The premier university will always be premier in everything we do, but it doesn’t also mean that we are world champions,” he said.
The tournament, held from March 24 to 28 at the Aliu Mahama Stadium, saw the University of Ghana emerge champions after a series of hard-fought matches.
UG began their campaign with a 2–0 victory over Tamale Technical University before suffering a 2–1 defeat to the University of Mines and Technology in their second group game.
They responded strongly in their final group fixture, defeating University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) 5–3 on penalties to secure a place in the semi-finals. Another shootout win followed, as UG beat University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) 4–1 to book a place in the final.
In the final, UG faced FISU champions UDS and secured a narrow 1–0 victory to clinch the title and make history as the competition’s first winners.
While the triumph marks a major milestone, Opare emphasised that the focus remains on continued development, noting that the team is yet to compete on the global stage.
The tournament featured eight Ghanaian Universities including University for Development Studies (UDS), UG, University of Education-Winneba (UEW), University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), GIMPA, and University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS).
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Story by Samuel Annang | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Erica Odeenyin Odoom
