The 2025 Northern Zonal Championship of the NSMQ is underway in Tamale following the conclusion of regional qualifiers in the five northern regions: Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, and Savannah.

Nineteen qualifying schools, along with private school Regentropfen SHS, have been drawn into five contests to determine which teams will advance to the national championship.

Ghana Senior High School is among the top contenders after returning through a second chance. The school initially lost its qualifying match to Kalpohin SHS in the Northern Region but was given another opportunity when Sakogu SHTS withdrew from the North East contest. Ghana SHS stepped in, won the vacant slot, and now has a chance to defend the zonal title it won last year.

In the opening contest, Tamale Islamic Science SHS will battle Awe SHTS, Lawra SHS, and Regentropfen SHS. Awe SHTS comes in with confidence after defeating Bolgatanga Girls’ SHS in a riddle-round tiebreaker to qualify from the Upper East Region.

Lawra SHS made it through from the Upper West, while Tamale Islamic brings strength from the Northern Region. Regentropfen SHS, a private school from the North East, joins the zonals directly as private institutions are not required to compete in regional qualifiers.

The second contest features Northern School of Business (NOBISCO), Business SHS, Bunkpurugu SHTS, and Kalpohin SHS. NOBISCO made headlines after scoring 66 points, the highest in the Northern Region qualifiers, and will be one to watch. Business SHS also impressed in the regional rounds and joins Bunkpurugu SHTS from the North East. Kalpohin SHS, who eliminated Ghana SHS in their qualifier, returns aiming to prove that their victory was no fluke.

In the third contest, Ghana SHS will face Tamale-based Kanton SHS, Navrongo SHS from the Upper East Region, and Yendi SHS from the Northern Region. Ghana SHS enters this contest determined to reclaim their status as zonal champions and secure another place at the national championship.

Contest four is made up of four Upper West Region schools: St. Francis Xavier Junior Seminary, Nandom SHS, Wa SHS, and Our Lady of Lourdes. These schools successfully advanced through the regional competition and now face off for a single slot at the nationals.

The fifth and final contest will see Tamale SHS, Bolgatanga SHS, St. Charles Minor Seminary, and T.I. AMASS, Salaga going head-to-head. T.I. AMASS, Salaga is competing at the zonals for the first time after knocking out regional favourites Damongo SHS in the Savannah Region.

The group also includes established names like Tamale SHS and St. Charles, both of whom have made several national appearances in recent years.