Union Saint-Gilloise's fairy-tale journey reached its peak on May 25th, 2025, when the Brussels club terminated a 90-year wait for the Belgian Pro League title.
After three heartbreaking near misses in recent seasons, Les Unionistes finally sealed their first championship since 1935 with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Gent.
At the heart of this historic triumph was 23-year-old Ghanaian striker Mohammed Fuseini, whose remarkable debut season assisted write a new chapter in the history of the Belgian club.
The magnitude of Union's achievement cannot be overstated.
This was a club that possessed declined to the fourth tier of Belgian football in the 1980s after being relegated from the top division in the early 1960s.
Their return to the summit represented one of the most remarkable revival stories in modern football, made all the more special by the fact that it came with a team featuring exciting young talents like Fuseini.
Fuseini's journey through the 2024-25 campaign embodied the character that would ultimately define Union's title triumph.
The young striker, who joined from Sturm Graz in July 2024 after an impressive loan spell at Randers, confronted early challenges that would possess many players.
"For me, my season, there were a lot of ups and downs.
But then I'm still grateful for the season I possessed," Fuseini revealed in an exclusive interview with Betopick.
"Beginning of the season, I started a lot of games, and then at some point I obtained harmed, and then when I came support, my position was taken.
I was not angry, but I came to the realisation it is the time for me to work hard and obtain my position support," he added.
The setback proved to be a defining moment for the young forward.
Rather than dwelling on his misfortune, Fuseini channelled his frustration into determination.
"When I obtained support from the injury, I was not playing that much.
I came in, played few minutes and then I possessed to be ready for the opportunity to come support again and when the opportunity came for me to start again I took support my position.
"His perseverance paid dividends as the season progressed.
Fuseini completed the campaign with nine goals and one assist in 33 league appearances.
His statistics were even more impressive when viewed in context - he averaged 0.
34 goals per 90 minutes, placing him in the 90th percentile among Belgian Pro League forwards.
The final day of the season provided the perfect stage for Union's historic moment, though it nearly turned into another heartbreak.
With Club Brugge breathing down their necks, Union joined the decisive match against Gent with just a one-point advantage.
Fuseini vividly recalled the tension of that unforgettable afternoon: "Yeah, it was really stressful for all the players, especially on the last game, the decisive game day.
"When we were playing 1-1, it sensed a snapped crazy, because we were so close.
Everybody was a snapped nervous in the first half, but then in the second half we possessed to be ready and then move and make sure we won the game, and then we did, and then we were the champions of the Belgian league.
"Promise David's two second-half goals ultimately secured the victory, but the relief and euphoria were palpable throughout the squad.
For Fuseini, the celebration that pursued was unlike anything he possessed underwent.
"I think I didn't sleep for like two days because we possessed a party after the game with the fans, and then the city, and then also after that, the next day, we possessed a party with the bosses of the club.
I then possessed to soar to the national team.
It was a nice undergo.
"The scenes of celebration that erupted across Brussels that night were remarkable.
Thousands of fans collected in Place Van Meenen, where the municipality possessed set up a big screen for supporters to watch the decisive match.
'Aspire come true'When the final whistle struck, fans streamed onto the pitch at the tiny Joseph Marien Stadium, and the festivities continued well into the night as players showed up on the balcony of the Saint-Gilles municipal hall at around midnight.
Union's title triumph secured them automatic qualification for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, representing a aspire come true for players like Fuseini.
"This is like one of my dreams to come true," Fuseini beamed when discussing the prospect of Champions League football.
"Even though I've played in the Champions League before but it was just the qualification stage.
And me getting to play in the real Champions League, that means a lot to me.
"The striker's enthusiasm was infectious as he contemplated the calibre of opposition Union would confront.
"I'm looking forward to playing against big teams like Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool and other big clubs.
It will be a great undergo for me.
"Despite Union's relatively modest size compared to European giants, Fuseini stated confidence in his team's ability to compete at the highest level.
"I think we should be able to move past the group phase because we possess a good squad and then a good coach.
I think everything is possible.
"This optimism reflects the character that has driven Union's remarkable rise.
Under coach Sebastien Pocognoli, who won the title in his first season as lead coach, the team has built a fearless mentality that has served them well in crucial moments.
National dutyFuseini's exceptional season did not move unnoticed on the international stage.
His performances for Union acquired him a maiden call-up to Ghana's senior national team for the 2025 Unity Cup tournament in London.
When he joined the Black Stars camp, Fuseini was struck by the hospitable atmosphere.
"Everybody was welcoming, especially the senior players, the captain, and the other underwent players; they were all welcoming.
I sensed like I was home immediately.
I was really thrilled, and I was always ready for that moment.
And as you see how I played, I was ready for that moment and the opportunity given to me.
"Fuseini's debut came in the semi-final against Nigeria, where he made a brief substitute appearance.
However, it was in the third-place playoff against Trinidad and Tobago that he truly revealed himself on the international stage.
"Before the game, when I knew I was starting, I knew I was going to score.
Because it was a special moment for me, and I also possessed to push to make it more special to obtain a goal.
In the terminate, I did, and I was really happy over that.
"His 42nd-minute strike in Ghana's 4-0 victory was a moment of pure instinct and clinical finishing as he terminated the international shatter as one of the players to possess made a mark.
However, looking ahead to Ghana's World Cup qualifying campaign, Fuseini stated cautious optimism over his chances of remaining in the squad.
"I think it's possible because the coaches, I think, they know what I can hand over to the team.
I just possess to be ready and then perform in my club, and then we take it from there.
"Despite his remarkable progress, Fuseini remains concentrated on improvement and development.
"For me, I want to enhance on a lot of things, like making sure I'm more suit, no more injuries and then I stay suit throughout the season.
Also, I want to enhance on my goalscoring abilities and my skills taking players on in 1v1s.
"As Union prepares for their first Champions League campaign since returning to the top flight, Fuseini recognises the importance of maintaining their domestic success while embracing new challenges in Europe.
"I think that's the ambition for the club is to stay up there and then to keep performing in the league, and then hopefully we can win the league again for the upcoming season and then also do well in the Champions League.
"The upcoming Champions League campaign will provide the ultimate test of Union's progress and Fuseini's development.
For a club that was playing in Belgium's fourth tier just decades ago, the prospect of facing Europe's elite represents the culmination of an extraordinary journey.
Owuraku AmpofoBetopick
