The Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC-Legon) has eliminated defending champions, Mfantsipim School, to book a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ).
The second quarter-final contest, held at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Monday, lived up to its billing as a “clash of the titans,” with the venue packed beyond capacity as enthusiastic supporters followed the action from outside.
The contest featured Mfantsipim School, the defending champions; PRESEC-Legon, the record NSMQ winners; and Presbyterian Senior High School, Bompata, making its maiden appearance at the quarter-final stage.
The highly competitive contest generated intense emotions, with spirited prayers, rhythmic clapping, dancing and pulsating jama songs from supporters as the contestants battled for a place in the semi-finals.
It was largely a two-horse race between Mfantsipim and PRESEC-Legon, who last met at the 2024 NSMQ semi-finals, where Mfantsipim prevailed in a nail-biting tie-breaker after both schools finished on 53 points.
In the opening round, which tested contestants on Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology, PRESEC-Legon took an early lead with 23 points, followed by Mfantsipim with 19 and Presby SHS, Bompata, with 13.
PRESEC-Legon extended its lead in the second round, the Trustur AI Speed Race, to 29 points. Mfantsipim improved to 22, while Bompata dropped to 11.
In the Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day) round, PRESEC-Legon scored eight of the available 10 points to increase its tally to 37. Mfantsipim and Bompata failed to score, leaving their totals at 22 and 11 points, respectively.
PRESEC-Legon further consolidated its lead in the Jupay Money Transfer True/False round, moving to 53 points, while Mfantsipim and Bompata increased their tallies to 32 and 21 respectively.
In the final GOIL Super Bonanza round, which featured riddles, Mfantsipim answered two of the four correctly, while PRESEC-Legon and Bompata each got one right.
PRESEC-Legon eventually finished on 56 points to qualify for the semi-finals, with Mfantsipim on 39 and Bompata on 24.
Mfantsipim received GH¢1,000 as the GOIL Super Bonanza Award for answering two riddles correctly, while Bompata received GH¢500 for answering one correctly.
PRESEC-Legon also received GH¢500 for answering one riddle correctly, GH¢900 as the Jupay Clean Sheet Award and GH¢3,000 as the Pepsodent Highest Scorer Award for recording the highest overall score among the three schools that competed that day.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Dzidafo Afram, Coordinator of PRESEC-Legon, said the team approached the contest with a mindset of “justice and righteousness” rather than revenge for its defeat to Mfantsipim in the 2024 semi-finals.
He said the students were encouraged to see themselves as champions and work hard to progress beyond the quarter-final stage.
“We told the students they are not coming for revenge but to prove that once a champion, always a champion,” he said.
“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 the team believed there was a special reason for overcoming the major schools it had encountered on its path, adding that the victory had strengthened its resolve to go for the trophy.
He said PRESEC-Legon’s status as the all-time NSMQ champions did not put undue pressure on the team ahead of the semi-finals but instead motivated the students to work harder and correct areas that needed improvement.
Mr Afram expressed gratitude to the school’s fans, old boys and supporters for their prayers, donations and goodwill, and urged them to continue supporting the team through prayers and voting.
PRESEC-Legon, which last won the NSMQ in 2023, will now seek to secure a record ninth title and reclaim the national crown.
GNA
