Former champions College of Training Winneba (UEW) reaffirmed their pedigree in college sports activities by defeating robust rivals College of Cape Coast (UCC) 1-0 on the ninth Piva Mini GUSA Video games to win the soccer title.
Within the hotly contested finals held at UPSA Park in Accra, two of Ghana’s conventional college sports activities powerhouses met in a tense match that lived as much as expectations.
UEW emerged victorious because of a first-half penalty in a match outlined by depth, tactical self-discipline and resilience on each side.
The ninth annual Peeva Mini GUSA Video games, held from Could 5 to Could 15, 2026, introduced collectively 16 greater schooling establishments from throughout the nation for a celebration of collegiate sports activities and competitors.
Athletes competed in a number of disciplines together with soccer, monitor and discipline, volleyball, tennis, badminton, desk tennis, and 3×3 basketball underneath the next themes: “Integration of college sports activities and educational professionalism”
Quick begin from UCC
UCC went into the ultimate with objective, displaying the brilliant aspect within the early exchanges, dominating the ball and creating harmful moments within the attacking third.
The Cape Coast-based group pressed aggressively, creating numerous promising possibilities and threatening to take the lead early on.
Nonetheless, UEW’s goalkeeper made the distinction within the first half, producing a sequence of key interventions to thwart UCC and hold the group degree underneath fixed strain.
His composure between the posts pissed off UCC’s offense. Regardless of repeatedly discovering area of their ahead areas, UCC’s attackers struggled to transform their benefit into objectives.
Controversial moments change momentum
Simply when it seemed like the sport was destined to enter the interval scoreless, the match turned in UEW’s favor.
Following the incident contained in the penalty space, the referee pointed to the spot after giving a controversial penalty resolution. The choice prompted a response from some within the crowd and the UCC bench.
UEW made no errors from 12 yards out and calmly transformed an opportunity to interrupt the impasse simply earlier than half-time, giving them a decisive benefit.
This purpose modified the course of the sport and compelled UCC to take a extra tense method within the second half.
UEW stands agency underneath strain
After the restart, UCC stepped up their assault, aiming for an equalizer.
They pushed their numbers ahead, loved lengthy durations of possession and seemed for openings in opposition to a well-drilled UEW backline.
Nonetheless, UEW confirmed the qualities of a championship-winning group.
Defensively disciplined and tactically organized, the Winneba-based outfit absorbed strain successfully and restricted UCC to restricted clear-cut alternatives.
Each time UCC was on the verge of breaking by way of, UEW’s defensive construction held agency and the goalkeeper as soon as once more stepped up with necessary saves to guard their slim lead.
Regardless of late strain and UCC’s attacking substitutions, UEW saved their cool and fought by way of the match to seal a memorable victory on the remaining whistle.
Declare victory for UEW
This victory marks one other necessary chapter in UEW’s wealthy sporting historical past and additional cements its popularity as one among Ghana’s main college sports activities establishments.
Given their historical past of success within the college competitors, it is going to be significantly satisfying for the Winneba-based group to reclaim silver medals in such dramatic style in opposition to one among their fiercest rivals.
The victory additionally highlighted UEW’s tactical self-discipline, resilience and talent to carry out underneath strain on the most important stage of school competitors.
Prime of UCC medal standings regardless of soccer heartbreak
Though UCC fell brief within the soccer finals, it completed the event as the highest college when it comes to general medals received.
The college received a formidable 21 gold medals, 18 silver medals and 11 bronze medals in varied sports activities disciplines, inserting it first general.
Kwame Nkrumah College of Science and Know-how (KNUST) got here second with 15 gold medals, underscoring one more robust efficiency for the Kumasi-based college.
The Peeva Mini GUSA Video games as soon as once more demonstrated the rising competitiveness of tertiary sports activities in Ghana, with universities utilizing this platform not solely to pursue status, but in addition to develop younger athletic expertise whereas balancing educational excellence.
However for UEW, the most important prize of all got here on the soccer pitch, with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over UCC guaranteeing they stroll out as champions as soon as once more.
