Football is one of the popular sports in Nigeria. You’ll find many people supporting European teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal in Nigeria. They follow updates about their teams religiously. From transfer rumours, and team news to injuries – they don’t want to miss important information about their favourite teams.

Sports betting was introduced in Nigeria in 2009 with the emergence of NairaBet. The company became popular among Nigerian players and new betting companies quickly joined the train. Some of these companies include Bet9ja, 1xBet, SportyBet, and BetKing.

According to Statista, “The Online Sports Betting market in Nigeria is projected to reach a revenue of US$256.90m in 2023.” So, that means the Nigerian sports betting market is big and more players are still coming in.

This article will explore everything you should know about football betting in Nigeria. So, keep reading to learn more!

Why You Should Bet on Football?

The football betting market is one of the biggest markets you can bet on at top Nigerian betting sites. It offers players several betting options with great odds. Nigerian players bet on football for several reasons.

Betting on football matches increases the thrill of the game and heightens your expectations from each match you bet on. Before now, players just watched football for fun. Now, they watch it to make live and future bet predictions. Every action on the pitch matters to bettors and they ensure they get something in return for watching a game.

Another reason why you should bet on football is that it allows you to gain in-depth knowledge about several betting markets worldwide. Nigerian players take their time to understand several unpopular leagues across the world and ensure they understand how the league works.

The next reason why should bet on football is to get money back in exchange for your love and knowledge of football. You can bet on the result of several matches in the English Premier League this weekend and get a chance to win big.

How to Bet on Football

You can bet on football games at top Nigerian betting sites like:

  • Betano
  • BetWay
  • Sky247.ng
  • 22Bet

Follow these steps if you want to bet on football at these sportsbook sites:

  1. Create a New Account

The first step is to create a new user account, if you don’t have one already. Click the “Sign up” button and get on with the registration process. Some important information you must provide includes your name, mobile number, and email. Next, verify your email by clicking on the link that will be sent to your mail. Then, you can log into your account with your login credentials.

  1. Deposit Real Money

The next step is to fund your new account with real money. Go to the bookmaker’s cashier page and use your preferred payment option to fund your account. Some deposit options you can use to fund your account at top betting sites in Nigeria include Skrill, Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Transfers, and Neteller.

Select your preferred payment option and specify the amount you want to deposit to proceed. You can begin your gameplay once your payment is reflected in your account.

  1. Select Your Preferred Betting Market

You can now select your preferred football betting markets among the options available at your preferred betting site. Select your preferred league and choose the market you want to bet on. Ensure you understand the betting market you want to choose before placing your bet.

  1. Place your Bet

You can now go on to place your bet after you’ve selected your preferred betting market. Then, wait for the football event to end so that you can get your results.

  1. Withdraw Your Winnings

You can withdraw your winnings if the result of the bet turns in your favour. Choose your preferred withdrawal option at the bookmaker’s cashier page to withdraw your winnings. But, if not, you have to place another bet and learn from your previous mistake to stand a better chance of winning.

Best Markets to Bet on Football

  • Over/Under

This is one of the popular football markets that allows bettors to bet on the combined number of goals scored by both teams in the game. For example, you can bet on the Over 1.5 or 2.5 market or the opposite Under 1.5 or 2.5. If you bet on the Over 1.5 market, you’re predicting that both teams will score at least 2 or more goals in the match. Also, if you bet on the Under 1.5 market, you’re predicting that both teams will not score more than 2 goals in the match.

  • Handicap

Handicap betting is another popular betting market in football. It gives an advantage to the underdog and makes betting even more interesting. For example, if you have a match between Manchester City and Leeds United, Manchester City is easily the favourite in this match, while Leeds is the underdog. Everyone knows Manchester City should easily get a win against Leeds United, but to make things interesting, an advantage is given to Leeds. Asian Handicap is the most popular football handicap you’ll find at top betting sites.

  • Double Chance

Double Chance is another football betting market that gives you a higher chance of winning from a single event. So, with the Double Chance betting, you’re betting on two possible outcomes of the game. You can either bet on both/one team to win or draw the game, which has a higher possibility of occurrence. But, this type of bet comes with reduced odds.

  • Odd/Even

The Odd/Even betting market focuses on the total number of goals scored by both teams at the end of the match. So, you bet on whether the combined goals that will be scored by both teams will be an odd or even number. For example, if you place an even bet on the match between Liverpool and Manchester United and the match ends with 4 goals – you win your bet.

  • Match Result 1×2 

The 1×2 betting market allows you to bet on the overall outcome of the match. There are three possible outcomes you can bet on with the 1×2 betting – a home win, an away win, and a draw.

Quick Tips for Good Football Bets

Here are a few tips that will help you place good football bets:

  • Choose a trustworthy and reliable betting site
  • Understand the betting markets you want to choose before placing your bets
  • Set a cap on your bet – once you reach the cap, stop playing
  • Start betting with low amounts and spread your bets across different markets
  • Choose a betting site that offers the best odds
  • You can check the “Responsible Gaming” page of your preferred betting site if you have a gambling addiction.

Football is one of the biggest sports you can bet on in Nigeria. Unfortunately, most players bet on games blindly without doing their due diligence. Understand the market you want to bet on to increase your chances of winning.