It’s safe to say that sports betting has become a mainstream pastime in Nigeria. People from different age groups participate and use their smartphones and computers to wager on their favorite sports.
There are countless competitions that locals punt on, but some of them are much more popular. That’s why Efirbet will do a deep dive into the major sports betting events that Nigerians wager on.
English Premier League
Football is Nigeria’s leading sport for online bettors, and locals wager on a lot of competitions. With that said, the English Premier League remains the most popular choice because it is extremely popular in the country. Nigerian fans loyalty to clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and other options.
A lot of Nigerians bet heavily on the EPL because matches are played weekly and consistently. The matches are also high-scoring and competitive games. Locals are also familiar with teams and players and know that competitions offer a wide range of betting markets. You can expect to find Over/Under, BTTS, Corners, Cards, Match Results, and so on.
Keep in mind that the Nigerian Professional Football League also has a large following. The local teams are exciting to watch, and people who have the experience take advantage of that.
UEFA Champions League
Continuing with the football competitions, we have the UEFA Champions League. It is the most glamorous competition in European football, and Nigerians love it.
The UEFA Champions League features Europe’s biggest clubs. Locals have the chance to bet on Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and all other popular names. The high-quality football also means it features star players, making the matches a lot more interesting.
Similar to the EPL, betting on the UCL allows Nigerians to access all kinds of different markets. Alongside all of the options mentioned above, Nigerian bettors will also find a lot of special options for the UCL.
African Cup of Nations
Every major football competition attracts fans and AFCON is definitely not an exception. What makes this event extra special is that Nigeria is usually a part of it. Given that AFCON takes place every couple of years, it is even more important for local bettors.
In terms of markets, Nigerians will find all of the usual suspects. Alongside that, there will be options to bet on the teams that will win the competitions, those that will exit the groups, and more.
Another thing that makes AFCON special is that many Nigerian bookmakers offer unique bonuses. Players can expect boosted odds, cashback offers, and deposit promotions. All of those things should be available to both new and existing users, since bookmakers aim to attract as many people as possible.
We can also add the FIFA World Cup to the list, alongside AFCON. Most of the things mentioned about it will also apply to this event, but the difference is that Nigeria may not always qualify for this event.
NBA
Even though football is the most popular sport for online bettors in Nigeria, it is not the only option. Locals are also interested in betting on basketball and often choose the NBA over other events.
The NBA is the world’s premier basketball league, and its popularity has grown rapidly across Africa. The time difference between Nigeria and the US works well for local players. Bookmakers know what people want, so many offer player-focused betting options. Most NBA games also feature high scoring, making them more fun to watch.
Another thing that makes the NBA (and basketball in general) appealing to Nigerian bettors is the many live betting options. Because the sport works the way it does, it is common to find options that are just not available in other sports. This, as well as several short-term bonuses, makes the NBA one of the go-to alternatives for many players.
Boxing
Professional boxing is one of the sports that attracts millions of bettors from around the world, including people from Nigeria. Punters are always interested in wagering on some of the more exciting fights, especially those from the heavyweight divisions. Fighters like Anthony Joshua are very famous in the country and he even has relatives who reside there.
Boxing usually offers simple betting options, but the odds even for some of the basic markets are really good. It’s true that there is not always something to bet on, but all events are hype-driving, and bookies usually have something special for them. Boosted odds and cashback deals are very common.
UFC
The UFC is in a similar state to boxing in terms of popularity. In fact, some people think that it is even more popular because of the many world-class African fighters. Names like Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman have made MMA very popular on the continent.
Another advantage of betting on the UFC over wagering on boxing or other combat sports is the more frequent events. Generally speaking, you will find at least a few big fight nights over the year. This gives players more betting opportunities.
As for the markets, many of the options present for boxing are also available here.
Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments
Betting on tennis is not as popular in Nigeria as in some European countries. Nevertheless, the sport gains popularity during the Grand Slam tournaments. There are 4 of them over the year and bettors like them because bookmakers provide more options than usual.
Nigerians who decide to focus on tennis betting will notice that the sport offers many unique options. Since it is an individual sport, bettors get the chance to wager on many special markets, including a lot of individual options.
Truth be told, more and more Nigerians are starting to bet on lesser-known tennis events as well. They have a lot in common in terms of markets and odds.
