The 11th edition of the Federation of African University Sports (FASU) Games concluded in Nigeria, with a total of 68 universities from across the continent participating.
The nine-day event was jointly hosted by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Lagos State University (LASU). The American University in Cairo – who incidentally will organise the 12th edition of the FASU Games in 2026 – emerged as the overall champion, followed by LASU and UNILAG. The University of Ghana and the University of Development Studies (also from Ghana) secured fourth and fifth places respectively.
Ghana’s University of Developmental Studies (UDS) men’s football team and Nigeria’s Lagos State University (LASU) women’s football team have qualified for the 2025 FISU University World Cup Football.
The men's football final
UDS emerged as the champions of the men’s football event defeating the University of Lagos (UNILAG) 3-0 in the final match. With this victory, Ghana’s University of Developmental Studies will represent Africa at the FISU World Cup Football in November 2025.
A 100% Nigerian women’s football final
Meanwhile, Lagos State University Queens defeated rivals University of Lagos women’s football team 2-1 to claim the gold medal and also win their ticket to the FISU University World Cup Football.
Professor Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, expressed her pride, noting that Team UNILAG achieved a total of 98 medals. “I am proud of all the students that participated and won different shades of medals,” Ogunsola said. She emphasised the importance of sportsmanship and unity, encouraging the athletes to carry the lessons learned and bonds formed at the games back to their universities and communities.
“As you return to your universities, carry with you the lessons learned and the bonds forged here. At UNILAG, we are committed to promoting sports as a tool for development, fostering education and building a brighter future for our youths,” Folasade Ogunsola said.
Meanwhile, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, Vice-Chancellor of LASU, expressed the university’s pride in hosting the FASU Games. She highlighted the event’s role in fostering friendships, alliances, and African unity. “Lagos 2024 demonstrated how sports can serve as a tool for African unity. Together with UNILAG, we have given Lagos and Nigeria a worthy representation,” Olatunji-Bello said.
Sport, but also much more
The event was filled with a wide array of festivities beyond just sports, highlighted by the launch of the GREEN FASU initiative in collaboration with the University of Lagos Green Hub. Attendees were treated to a vibrant art exhibition organised by Nigerian universities in partnership with the Centre for Culture and Environment Promotion.
A glimpse of the competitions
Additionally, a scientific conference took place under the theme “Fostering Unity, Healthy Competition, and Global Excellence through University Sports.” The conference featured discussions on topics such as “University Sports Leadership and Women’s Participation” and “The Future of Sports and Artificial Intelligence: Changing the Landscape of Sports in Africa through Science and Technology.”
The next edition of the Games will be hosted by the American University in Cairo Egypt in 2026.
Written by Hassan Abdulsalam (FISU Young Reporter, Chengdu 2021), pictures courtesy of the organising committee.
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