By Abdul Hayi Moomen
In a performance that was as breathtaking as it was historic, the University for Development Studies (UDS) from Ghana booked their place in the semifinals of the International University Football Championship, thrashing Kungyl University of South Korea 5-2 in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter.
From the opening whistle, the small African crowd knew they were in for something special. The two sides, both evenly matched on paper, came out swinging, literally within the first three minutes, each team had tested the opposing goalkeeper, setting the tone for a fiery contest.
But as the minutes ticked by, it became clear: UDS had come not just to compete, but to dominate.
The Ghanaian side, spurred on by tactical clarity and raw hunger, wasted no time asserting their intent. In the 6th minute, a slick combination between playmaker Alhassan Zakaria and the ever-threatening Frimpong forced a corner, which led to the breakthrough just moments later. A perfectly timed pass from Alhassan found Frimpong, who coolly slotted home the opener.
Just two minutes later, the match’s first yellow card was shown to UDS’ Habilu, but the momentum was already in Ghana’s favor.
By the 13th minute, Alhassan Zakaria doubled UDS’ tally, turning constant attacking pressure into a 2-0 lead, and he wasn’t done yet. A stunning free kick from Zakaria near the corner flag in the 26th minute made it 3-0, sending the UDS bench into wild celebrations.
Kungyl, to their credit, responded in the 31st minute with a well-taken goal, briefly narrowing the margin to 3-1. But that would be as close as they’d get.
UDS created chance after chance. From Mohammed Asigri’s visionary long passes that split the Korean defense to Ibrahim Salifu’s rockets from outside the box, the Ghanaian side was relentless.
Frimpong nearly added to the tally in the 32nd and 42nd minutes, with Zakaria just inches away from a first-half hat-trick. Injury time saw another scare for the Koreans, as Salifu tested the keeper with a fierce strike.
The second half began right where the first left off, with UDS in total control. Within six minutes of the restart, Frimpong completed a smooth one-two with Alhassan, only to be caught offside. But he didn’t have to wait long. In the 52nd minute, a perfect cross from Jorge Renchi found Frimpong, who nodded in his second and UDS’ fourth of the day.
In the 72nd minute, following a beautiful team move involving Hamza, Asigri, Alhassan, and Renchi, Frimpong completed his hat-trick, sending UDS fans into delirium and bringing the score to 5-1.
Despite being under siege, the South Koreans showed their might. Their star forward, wearing number 7, struck in the 79th minute to pull another one back, bring the scores to 5-2, but it was too little, too late. Goalkeeper Emmanuel Edo produced two critical saves, one in the 58th and another after a melee in the 61st, to preserve UDS’ dominance.
Coach Ibrahim Tanko made a smart move in the 76th minute, substituting the industrious Jorge Renchi, who had been a menace on the right wing, for Labandoo. The substitute missed a golden opportunity in the 85th minute, skying a shot from just six yards, but by then the match had already been decided.
With this emphatic 5-2 victory, UDS not only marched into the semifinals, becoming the first African university to ever do so, but also etched their name into the tournament’s record books. The Ghanaian side now boasts the highest number of goals scored so far: 12, while conceding just 5.
“This is a proud moment for UDS, for Ghana, and for Africa,” said an elated Prof. Elliot Haruna Alhassan, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of UDS, moments after the final whistle. “These boys have shown what belief, preparation, and talent can achieve.”
The excitement was palpable among the top brass of the university. Mr. Nurudeen Issah Abubakar, the Registrar, couldn’t contain his joy: “Our team has made history. This is the beginning of a new chapter for university football in Africa.”
Dr. Hardi Shaibu, Director of Sports at UDS, was visibly moved: “We knew we had a good team, but to see this level of performance on the world stage is just overwhelming.”
Ahead of the clash, Prof. Elliot Haruna Alhassan had boosted team morale by announcing on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Seidu Al-hassan, a winning bonus package for the players, a move that seems to have added fuel to an already burning fire of ambition.
UDS will now await the outcome of the third and fourth quarterfinal games to learn who their semifinal opponent will be. But with confidence surging, a historic performance behind them, and momentum firmly on their side, the Ghanaian outfit will be hard to stop.
Whatever lies ahead, this night in Dallian will be remembered forever — not just for the goals, the glory, and the beautiful football, but for the moment an African university broke the glass ceiling and stormed into the elite.
Final Score: UDS (Ghana) 5 – 2 Kungyl University (South Korea)
