NSMNSMQ 2026: PRESEC Claims El Clasico Victory, Ends Mfantsipim’s Title Defence!

Main Auditorium - August 31, 2026

The second day of the Quarter-final Stage of the National Championship ended with a keenly contested encounter between three schools, marked by moments of brilliance, disappointment and celebration.

Defending champions Mfantsipim School, eight-time NSMQ champions Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC, Legon), and first-time Quarter-finalists Presbyterian Senior High School, Bompata, faced off at the UCC Main Auditorium on Monday evening.

The contest began with prayers, followed by singing, rhythmic clapping, dancing and jama songs as supporters of the three schools cheered on their contestants.

Veteran Quiz Mistress Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann presided over the contest with her usual composure and precision. Before the contest began, she interacted with the contestants on stage, helping to ease their nerves ahead of the competition.

The UCC Main Auditorium was filled to capacity, with supporters following the contest both inside and outside the auditorium.

The much-anticipated clash between Mfantsipim School and PRESEC, Legon turned into a two-horse race, with Presby SHS, Bompata, struggling to keep pace from the opening round to the end of the contest.

PRESEC, Legon eventually secured the win with 56 points, healing the old wound of their 2024 Semi-final defeat to Mfantsipim and progressing to the 2026 Semi-final Stage. Mfantsipim finished with 39 points, while Presby SHS, Bompata, earned 24 points.

Mfantsipim received GH₵1,000 as a GOIL Super Bonanza Award for answering two riddles correctly, while Presby SHS, Bompata, received GH₵500.

Meanwhile, PRESEC earned GH₵500 for the same award. The school also received GH₵900 for the Jupay Clean Sheet Award, before crowning the day with the Pepsodent Highest Scorer Award, worth GH₵3,000.

Round One set the tone for a strong start. The Legon school raced to 23 points with sharp and confident answers, while defending champions Mfantsipim School followed with 19 points. Presby SHS, Bompata, had 13 points.

The Trustur AI Speed Race in Round Two further separated the schools. The Odadeɛ boys moved to 29 points, showing speed on the buzzer. Mfantsipim improved to 22 points, while Presby SHS, Bompata, remained on 11 points.

The Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star, Problem of the Day, proved difficult for Mfantsipim and Presby SHS, Bompata, as both schools went scoreless in the round, remaining on 22 and 11 points, respectively. The Legon school scored 8/10 to move to 37 points.

In Round Four, the Jupay Money Transfer True/False, PRESEC further increased its lead to 53 points. Mfantsipim recovered to 32 points, while Presby SHS, Bompata, doubled its score to 21 points, keeping their supporters hopeful of a comeback.

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The final round, GOIL Super Bonanza, sealed the result. PRESEC answered one riddle correctly to finish on 56 points. Mfantsipim got two iddles right to end on 39 points, while Presby SHS, Bompata, finished on 24 points.

With the victory, the Odadeɛ boys booked a place in the Semi-final Stage of the 2026 NSMQ. They will now aim to secure a record ninth NSMQ title and move closer to a historic tenth championship.

Speaking with the NSMQ Communications Team after the contest, Mr. Dzidafo Afram, Coordinator, PRESEC, described the contest as a “mission of justice and righteousness,” one that was not fuelled by a revenge mindset.

The team approached the quarter-final clash against the defending champions as their “final of finals,” with the sole aim of proving that though a crown may shift, the champion remained, and clearing the path to reclaim the trophy.

“We told the students they are not coming for revenge but to prove that once a champion, always a champion. We approached this as our final of finals - clearing the defending champions paves the way for us to sail to the final and take the trophy,” Mr. Afram said.

He noted that having already overcome other big schools gave the team confidence heading into the semi-finals, rather than pressure, expressing appreciation to PRESEC fraternity for their prayers, well-wishes and donations, promising not to disappoint them.

The Round-by-Round Scores for this contest stood as follows:

Round One General Questions (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology)

PRESEC, Legon                                         23

Mfantsipim School                                  19

Presby SHS, Bompata                            13

Round Two (Trustur AI Speed Race)

PRESEC, Legon                                          29

Mfantsipim School                                  22

Presby SHS, Bompata                            11

Round Three Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day)    

PRESEC, Legon                                          37

Mfantsipim School                                  22

Presby SHS, Bompata                            11

Round Four (Jupay Money Transfer True/False) 

PRESEC, Legon                                          53

Mfantsipim School                                  32

Presby SHS, Bompata                            21

Round Five (GOIL Super Bonanza)

PRESEC, Legon                                          56

Mfantsipim School                                  39

Presby SHS, Bompata                            24

The 2026 edition of the National Science & Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and proudly sponsored by the Ghana Education Service (GES), with support from GOIL PLC, Joy News, Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, Pepsodent, Cowbell, Trustur AI, Jupay Money Transfer, Lumevax, GTP, SpinCiti Laundromat, Didi Jollof, Bel Beverages, Accra College of Medicine, Coronation Insurance Ghana, Academic City University, Baldwin University College and YFM.