{
  "id": 4158603,
  "title": "NSMQ 2026: Did ‘late’ preparation cost OWASS a place in quarterfinals?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/nsmq-2026-did-late-preparation-cost-owass-a-place-in-quarterfinals",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T09:25:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/nsmq-2026-did-late-preparation-cost-owass-a-place-in-quarterfinals/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Opoku Ware School (OWASS) experienced a shocking exit from the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) 2026 after only their first match at the One-Eighth Stage. This early exit marked a sharp contrast to their previous success, as they had made it to the quarterfinals in every edition from 2022 to 2025. The disappointment was even greater given that this was their second consecutive Grand Finale appearance in 2025. In a recent interview, an insider with close knowledge of the school's Science and Maths team revealed that the team's early exit may have been due to insufficient preparation time. The source noted that the contestants had only begun their serious preparations late in 2025, suggesting that the team was not as ready as they could have been. This delay in preparation, combined with the lack of a zonal championship participation, may have contributed to the team's failure to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.",
  "summary": "For a school that had built a reputation for going deep into the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) in recent years, Opoku Ware School’s 2026 campaign ended far earlier than expected.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}