UDS are the first African country to win the World University Games
The University for Development Studies (UDS) may have made history by becoming the first African university to win the World University Football Championship, but their unbeaten triumph in China has been overshadowed by controversy over the post-tournament awards.
Despite going all the way to the title and defeating Brazil’s University of Paulista in a dramatic 2-1 final on Sunday, September 28, 2025, no UDS player was named among the individual award winners.
The Best Goalkeeper and Best Player prizes went to Brazil’s Diego Rodrigues and Spain’s Ivan Casares respectively, sparking outrage from fans who took to social media to vent their displeasure.
Supporters argue that UDS’ dominance throughout the competition, from their resilient semifinal win over Spain’s University of Granada to their iconic “Olimpico” winner in the final, should have been reflected in the awards.
UDS win historic World University Games for first time
Many highlighted the heroics of the UDS goalkeeper, who pulled off crucial penalty saves against Granada and stood tall against Paulista, as evidence that Ghana’s champions deserved recognition.
For UDS, the trophy itself remains the ultimate prize, a golden moment that can never be taken away.
But for their passionate fans, the snub at the awards ceremony has left a bitter aftertaste to what should have been a night of unbridled celebration.
Read some of the reactions below:
Wtf is this so the champions are not good enough for awards
— B21 (@BEDIAKU_) September 28, 2025
One thing that will reduce the sanity of this competition is racism. How can a team without a single defeat won the cup without getting one individual award. What baffles me the most is the best coach not coming from UDS. What I saw at the final is pure racism and nothing else.
— Razak Kpabiya (@Razak_kpabiya) September 28, 2025
Goalkeeper wae dey score am corner goal😂
— NanaYaw McArthur (@kingmcarthur00) September 28, 2025
What’s the criteria for these awards? This is not adding up. How come the undefeated team got no individual awards?
— Coach Sammy (@Baah1K) September 28, 2025
How can you tell me this story??
The Champions don’t have even one deserving player?💔😡— Akata GH (@EmmanuelMcCoy17) September 28, 2025
UDS didn’t win any?
You can do better— Wettowel201 (@Wettowel201) September 28, 2025
The winners of the tournament didn’t get any award aside coming first
— High Ace♦️♣️ (@HighAce233) September 28, 2025
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