President John Dramani Mahama has praised the University for Development Studies (UDS) male football team for bringing pride to Ghana after their 2–1 extra-time victory over Brazil’s Paulista University to win the 2025 World University Football Games.

Hosting the triumphant team at the Jubilee House, President Mahama described their victory as “an amazing feat that showcases Ghana’s sporting excellence and the immense potential of our youth.”

He commended the players, technical team, and university leadership for their hard work, discipline, and determination, which led to their success on the global stage.

As part of his gesture of appreciation, the President donated 500,000 cedis to the team, recognising their contribution to enhancing Ghana’s international image in university sports.

President Mahama also applauded the management, faculty, and students of UDS, recalling the university’s founding vision as a legacy of former President Jerry John Rawlings, and lauding how it continues to fulfil its mission of nurturing excellence across various fields.

In his remarks, the President announced new measures to strengthen sports development nationwide.

He revealed that the government, through the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ministry of Education, is establishing a School Sports Authority to coordinate sporting competitions from the basic to university level.

According to him, the initiative aims to identify, develop, and support young talents across the country to ensure a continuous pipeline of skilled athletes representing Ghana at international levels.

President Mahama further disclosed that the government is investing in modern sports infrastructure across all regions, including the construction of standard sports stadia with first-class facilities to enhance training and competition standards.