Ghana’s Ezedeen Alhassan talks about how his recent victory at the Dalian 2025 FISU University World Cup Football with the University for Development Studies (UDS) has greatly helped raise his profile.
It all unfolded like a dream. The final of a major tournament – the Dalian 2025 FISU University World Cup Football – the result hanging in the balance. All square at 1-1 heading into stoppage time in extra time. A corner is awarded, with one minute left on the clock. Ezedeen Alhassan, the team’s star number 10, stands over the ball. The referee’s whistle blows, and Ezedeen swings in a sweet, sumptuous, swerving, left-footed strike… straight into the back of the net!
Cue mayhem. Ezedeen sprints across the field, his teammates in hot pursuit. He holds up his number 10 shirt to the cameras before being mobbed by both teammates and staff, as Ghana’s University for Development Studies completed a come-from-behind victory to lift the trophy at this year’s FISU University World Cup Football.
“Scoring the winning goal was an indescribable feeling!” Ezedeen tells FISU.net. “It was a moment of pure elation. I remember seeing the corner kick opportunity and just letting the ball fly. When it sailed past the goalkeeper’s head and into the net, the stadium erupted, and my teammates rushed towards me in jubilation. It was a surreal moment, one I will cherish forever.”
Football has always been front and centre for young Ezedeen (who seems to enjoy being at the centre of attention since an early age!). Growing up in Tamale in northern Ghana, he was inspired to kick a ball after watching his brothers train at local club Hearts Babies FC, before being absorbed into the team himself. Ezedeen had natural talent, but had academic ambition as well, enrolling at the University for Development Studies (UDS), where he continued to shine on the football pitch, top scoring at the FASU Games in Nigeria which ensured his side’s qualification for the FISU University World Cup Football tournament in Dalian, China in September.
Going unbeaten throughout the competition, UDS faced off against Brazilian group stage opponents Paulista University – with whom they had drawn 1-1 earlier in the competition – in the final, where Ezedeen’s magical moment ensured a very first FISU University World Cup Football gold medal for an African team.
“Being part of the team that won the tournament is an incredible honour and a dream come true,” he says. “It represents the culmination of hard work, dedication and perseverance. We were not just representing ourselves; we represented our university, our country, and our continent. To have made history as the first African university to win the World Cup Football is truly special.”
A professional contract with Karela United…
It was at the FASU Games where Ezedeen’s talent was spotted by Karela United, with the Ghanaian top-flight club offering the 21-year-old a professional contract in January this year.
“Playing for my university team helped raise my profile, and I’m grateful for the opportunity Karela United have given me,” he says. “I have found professional football to be incredible. The level of competition is high, and I am learning a lot from my teammates and opponents. Karela United has a great team dynamic, and I am enjoying the challenge of helping the team succeed.”
…but still an Educational Management and Planning student
Yet despite turning pro, Ezedeen has continued with his studies, a great example of dual career, which he hopes to put to good use in future. “Alongside my football career, I am studying Educational Management and Planning,” the UDS student says. “In the future, I would love to leverage my knowledge and experience to contribute to the development of education in Ghana. I hope to pursue a career in sports management or educational administration, where I can combine my passion for sports with my academic background. Who knows, maybe one day I will manage a football team or oversee educational programmes in Ghana.”
That’s all in the distant future, though, with the FISU World Cup Football star fully focused on making his mark on the global stage.
“Seeing the impact that sports can have on people’s lives, inspiring young kids, and making my country proud drives me to work harder and achieve my goals,” says a measured Ezedeen. “Representing Ghana on the biggest stage in university football is a dream come true, but playing in the FIFA World Cup in future would be an incredible honour.
“The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be an exciting opportunity for Ghana and other African teams to showcase their talent globally, and with the 2030 World Cup taking place on African soil, I’d love to represent Ghana and make the nation proud.”
Ezedeen Alhassan. Remember the name.
Written by Fabio De Dominicis, pictures courtesy of Ezedeen Alhassan
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