St. Augustine’s College has earned a berth in the NSMQ 2026 Grand Finale, set for September 10 at the University of Ghana in Accra, after a commanding semifinal victory over five‑time champions Prempeh College and 2001 winners Pope John SHS & Minor Seminary.
The win marks Augusco’s third consecutive appearance in the NSMQ final since 2024, underscoring an extraordinary run of consistency at the national level.
The contest at the Main Auditorium of the University of Cape Coast began with a tight three‑way battle. After Round One, St. Augustine’s and Prempeh College were tied on 16 points, while Pope John trailed on 15. Round Two reshaped the contest: St. Augustine’s edged ahead with 26 points, Prempeh followed closely on 25, and Pope John remained on 15.
During the Problem of the Day, Augusco pulled away, scoring nine of the ten available points. Prempeh managed five, and Pope John only three, lifting St. Augustine’s to 35 points, five ahead of Prempeh on 30 and well ahead of Pope John on 18.
In Round Four, the True or False segment offered Prempeh a chance to claw back, but Augusco stayed firmly in control. St. Augustine’s added 13 points to reach 48, Prempeh moved to 37, and Pope John to 28.
The final round saw the outcome increasingly clear. St. Augustine’s finished on 52 points, Prempeh College on 47, and Pope John on 28. The five‑point margin over Prempeh capped a performance that turned a tightly contested opening into a contest the winners controlled.
Prempeh’s defeat ends their campaign despite a strong challenge from the five‑time champions, who stayed within touching distance of Augusco for much of the contest. Pope John struggled to maintain pace and finished 24 points behind the winners.
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