KNUST lifts W. Africa Universities Games soccer trophy

Kumasi, June 26, GNA - The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) beat University of Cape Coast (UCC) 2-1 in the soccer finals to lift the soccer trophy at the second West Africa Universities Hockey and Soccer Championships which ended in Kumasi on Saturday. Two beautiful goals scored by KNUST's Eric Frimpong in the 40th and 80th minutes ensured victory for the host team to lift the gold medal with UCC's Thomas Obeng scoring a goal for his side in the 65th minute. KNUST got to the finals by beating Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) of Nigeria 1-0 in the semi-finals while UCC won the silver medal when they accounted for University of Ghana (UG), Legon with 1-0 win. OOU won the bronze medal when they thrashed UG 3-0 in the third place match.

Frimpong who won the goal-king award with eight goals as well as the best player award, made all the difference for his side when he consistently remained a thorn in the flesh of the UCC defence in a match that was fairly balanced.


Stringing good passes together, KNUST took the lead in the 40th minute but UCC's equalised in the 65th minute to unsettle the host team, but it was the individual brilliance of Frimpong that made the difference when he scored the match winner in the 80th minute through a solo effort.


KNUST also won the fair play award.


In the Men's hockey tournament, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) of Nigeria won the gold trophy by beating UCC 2-0 in the finals while KNUST won the bronze medal after struggling to beat University of Education, Winneba (UEW) 3-2 in the third place match.

Gabriel Emordi of OAU was voted the best player and also won the goal-king award with six goals and OAU also won the fair play award. In the Women's hockey contest, KNUST won the gold trophy after amassing a total of five points and five goals with UCC winning the silver trophy with five points and three goals while UG placed third with four points and five goals to win bronze medal.


Judith Antwi of KNUST was voted the best player and also won the goal-king award with four goals with KNUST again taken the fair play award.


18 Universities in the African sub-region participated in the 10-day tournament.


The University of Abomey Calavi of Benin will host the next edition of the tournament in 2006.