Director of Sports at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Mr. Shaibu Ibrahim Tanko, is confident that his team is poised to rewrite history by becoming the first African university to progress beyond the group stage of the FISU University World Cup.
He believes UDS is fully prepared to defy the odds and shift the narrative, aiming to make a lasting impact for the continent on the global university football stage.
“No African university has ever made it past the group stage, UDS is a different university and a unique university as far as football is concerned. We will cross that border and go very far, if possible, winning the trophy,” he said.
The 2025 edition of the tournament will take place from September 17 to 28 in Dalian, China, marking the first time the event will be hosted outside Jinjiang.
The competition brings together the best university football teams from around the world, with qualifiers emerging from ten continental tournaments.
UDS would have to battle it out in Group C, where they would face defending champions Paulista University in Brazil, Ramon Llull University in Spain, and the University of Sharjah in the UAE.
The FISU University World Cup Football follows a university-versus-university format, allowing student-athletes to represent their institutions directly rather than national delegations.
The men’s competition will feature 16 teams, while the women’s tournament will have 8, including defending champions in both categories.
UDS will represent Ghana at the tournament as they prepare for their opening group matches in China next month.
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Story by Samuel Annang|univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Pius Asack
