In a thrilling display of football mastery, the University for Development Studies (UDS) stunned spectators with a dominant 5-0 victory over the University of Jos (Unijos) in the ongoing FASU Games in Nigeria. This emphatic win propels UDS into the semi-finals, where they are now widely regarded as the team to beat for the prestigious gold medal.
From the blow of the whistle, UDS seized control of the game, dictating the tempo and applying relentless pressure on the Unijos defense. It didn't take long for their efforts to pay off. In the 22nd minute, star striker EzeDeen a figure whose name is now being chanted in admiration across the tournament, latched onto a well-placed through ball, gliding past two defenders before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner, putting UDS ahead.
As Unijos scrambled to regroup, UDS only grew stronger. Just before halftime, Alhassan doubled UDS's lead with a powerful header from a corner kick in the 41st minute, leaving Unijos' goalkeeper helpless and solidifying UDS's dominance. The halftime whistle blew with UDS sitting comfortably on a 2-0 lead, but little did the crowd know, the best was yet to come.
The second half belonged to EzeDeen who cemented his place in this year's FASU Games history. With precision and pace, he netted two more goals in quick succession. His second came in the 58th minute with a clinical finish after a swift counter-attack, and just ten minutes later, he completed his hattrick– the first of the tournament. A spectacular solo run saw him dance past three defenders before firing the ball past the hapless Unijos goalkeeper, sending the UDS bench into jubilant celebration. EzeDeen’s hattrick also took his personal tally to four goals, making him the leading scorer of the competition.
With Unijos completely outplayed and demoralized, UDS capped off their dominant performance with a final strike from Jonas who added a fifth goal in the dying minutes of the game, rounding off a near-flawless team performance. His 89th-minute strike was the icing on the cake, as UDS put on a show for the fans and delivered a performance that echoed their title ambitions.
Football pundits and analysts at the tournament have now tipped UDS as favorites to go all the way. Their tactical brilliance, combined with the scoring prowess of EzeDeen and the solid team effort, have left many convinced that they are on a collision course with glory. With the semi-finals looming, UDS will carry their confidence and momentum into the next stage, aiming not only for a spot in the final but for the ultimate prize—the gold medal.
As UDS marches forward, the question on everyone’s mind is: who can stop this football juggernaut?
The Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences (FOAFCS), located at the Nyankpala Campus, is the premier faculty of the University for Development Studies (UDS), having begun in 1993 as the Faculty of Agriculture.