Bishop Herman College, otherwise called (BIHECO) has pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), knocking out three powerhouse schools from the Ashanti Region to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
The boys from Kpando in the Volta Region stunned two-time NSMQ champions Opoku Ware School (OWASS), Yaa Asantewaa Girls and fellow Ashanti powerhouse Asanteman SHS in a exciting contest last Friday, sending both schools crashing out of the competition.
The dramatic victory came after BIHECO and Asanteman finished the contest tied on 43 points, forcing the two schools into a nerve-racking tie-break to determine the final quarter-finalist.
And when the pressure was at its peak, BIHECO held its nerve, providing the correct answer to the tie-break question and breaking Asanteman’s hearts.
The result brought a dramatic end to what had been a fiercely contested battle involving three schools with a rich tradition of academic excellence.
OWASS started strongly and appeared to be in control in the opening stages, but its early advantage quickly evaporated as Asanteman surged ahead in Round Two.
The contest then intensified, with both BIHECO and Asanteman demonstrating their strength in the Problem of the Day, scoring a perfect 10 out of 10 to earn the coveted NSMQ star.
Asanteman carried its momentum into Round Three, establishing a lead with 30 points, while BIHECO followed closely with 27 points meanwhile, OWASS trailed on 21 points.
But BIHECO refused to surrender.
The Kpando-based school mounted a determined comeback in the final stages, dragging itself level with Asanteman on 43 points by the end of the contest.
OWASS finished on 31 points, ending its hopes of advancing to the next stage.
With Asanteman and BIHECO locked at 43 points, the contest went down to the wire.
A single tie-break question would determine who would claim the final quarter-final ticket — and it was BIHECO that rose to the occasion.
The Volta Region school delivered the decisive answer, sending its supporters into wild celebrations while leaving Asanteman to contemplate a heartbreaking exit.
For OWASS, the defeat marked a bitter end to a contest in which the two-time champions had looked promising early on.
For Asanteman, the pain was even sharper, having fought back to finish on the same score as BIHECO, only to lose their ticket in the final showdown.
BIHECO, meanwhile, marches on with confidence after demolishing the two Ashanti giants and will now face another formidable all-boys side, Accra Academy, alongside University Practice SHS, in the quarter-finals.
The quarter-final contest is scheduled for today, September 1.
Located on the hills of Kpando, Bishop Herman College has now stamped its authority on the 2026 NSMQ, proving that the competition for national supremacy is far from a battle reserved for the traditional giants.
