Dawu Youngstars F.C.

Dawu qualified for the 1992 West African Club Championship just five years after they had been founded. In the 5th round, Dawu came up against Asemap FC of Benin. A 2–0 win in the first leg and a 2–1 win in the second leg[13] gave the Youngstars an aggregate 4–1 win and they should have progressed to the next round. However, Dawu were then disqualified and their place in the quarter-finals was taken by Asemap FC, who went on to reach the semi-finals, only being eliminated on penalties by Hafia FC of Guinea.

NB: Table only shows 10/16 teams to focus on Dawu Youngstars

Dawu managed to secure an impressive 5th place[14] in the Ghanaian Premier League just three years after their formation. The club only finished four points behind 2nd-placed Accra Hearts of Oak, the biggest club in the country.

NB: Stats only shown for 10/14 clubs to focus on Dawu Youngstars

Dawu managed to emulate the success of the previous season, again finishing in 5th place.[15] However, if they had won just one game fewer, Dawu would have finished in 10th place, an indication of how close the league was. The club was propelled by the goals of Abdul Mumuni, later to become a Ghanaian international, who was the Ghanaian Premier League's top scorer for the season.

NB: Only 10/12 teams shown to focus on Dawu Youngstars

Dawu slipped to sixth place in the league but still enjoyed a successful season, including keeping 3 consecutive clean sheets between rounds 2–4. Dawu's striker Felix Aboagye was the league's joint-second top-scorer, with 8 goals.

Dawu dropped two places from the previous season but despite their low placing, were only six points away from 2nd placed Asante Kotoko.[16]

With just four games remaining in the league season, Dawu were in an impressive 3rd place,[17] and could still have won the league. However, they took just one point from their last four matches and slumped to a 7th-placed finish. This poor end-of-season form almost dragged Dawu into the relegation zone, as they finished just four points clear of the two relegated teams.

Dawu finished just four points above the relegation zone in a disappointing season. In a season of mixed results, including a 5–1 win over Ghapoha and a 5-1 reverse at Hearts of Oak, Youngstars saved themselves from relegation with an improved second half of the season, with two wins and a draw from the club's final three games. In the FA Cup, Dawu were eliminated in the first round after losing 6–5 to Corners of Konongo on penalties.[18]

Dawu very narrowly avoided relegation on the last day of the season. After a poor start to the 2000 campaign, including a 5–0 loss to Asante Kotoko and just one win in their first 11 games,[19] the Youngstars needed a victory over their opponents to ensure survival. However, as if matters were not difficult enough already, Dawu's opponents were none other than league champions Accra Hearts of Oak, the most successful club in Ghana. Incredibly, Hearts failed to show and the three points were awarded to Dawu, the club avoiding a relegation playoff by just one point.

Dawu found success in the 2000 Ghanaian FA Cup, defeating Odupong Heroes, Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs and King Faisal before losing in the semi-finals, although the club was perhaps unlucky to be drawn away from home in three of their four matches. Dawu beat Odupong Heroes thanks to a 2nd-minute penalty from Abdulai Tahiru and second half goals from Awudu Adama and Samuel Tona.[20] The table below shows the Youngstars' FA Cup progress.

(H) = Home match (A)= Away match

Dawu Youngstars' Awudu Adama was the league's joint second top-scorer, with 9 goals. Dawu were knocked out in the early stages of the 2001 Ghanaian FA Cup and did not reach the quarter-finals of the competition. Adansiman and Kwaebibirem United were relegated to the Ghanaian First Division. Dawu's results in the league included a 4–1 win over Maxbees and a 1–0 win over domestic giants and 2nd placed Asante Kotoko.[21]

Dawu and Maxbees were automatically relegated to the Ghana First Division and Power FC joined them after losing the relegation/promotion playoff. The club endured a nightmare start to that season, winning just one of their first 12 games in the 30-round season. Dawu finished just one point away from safety, but still would have had to go through a relegation/promotion play-off if they had finished 14th. The club finished on 30 points, winning 8, drawing 8 and losing 14 games. Dawu Youngstars have not returned to the Ghanaian Premier League since.

In January 2004, Accra Hearts of Oak were made to pay 33 million cedis to Dawu for the transfer of Awudu Adama, which had happened during the 2002 season.[22] Hearts had originally agreed to pay 80 million cedis for Adama but despite reminders from Youngstars had not paid the transfer in full. Dawu's joint top-scorers for the season were Eric Mbroah, Paul Ofori, Issah Ahmed and Mohammed Polo, all with four goals.[23]