Football is Nigeria’s most popular sport, attracting millions of fans who follow domestic and international leagues. We already shared more details about the NPFL, but the truth is that most Nigerians prefer to follow and bet on European football. This is especially true for the English Premier League.
In fact, surveys from 2024 reveal that close to 59% of all Nigerian football viewers follow the EPL. For comparison, the local competition only gets the attention of around 34% of people. Some of them believe that the games are boring, whereas others complain about quality issues and the lack of live broadcasts.
These are just some of the reasons people choose the EPL over the rest, but we at Efirbet NG believe there is much more. Keep in mind that the 2026/26 Premier League season will start on August 21, whereas the 2026/27 NPGL begins on August 28. Both leagues will run simultaneously, but it seems like the EPL has the lead, so let’s learn why this is the case.
The Premier League Has Built Generations of Nigerian Fans
The first major reason the English Premier League is so popular among Nigerian fans is familiarity. England’s leading football competition has been a part of Nigerian culture for decades and has created supporters who have followed the same club for years. In fact, it’s safe to say that some of the loyalties have even passed from one generation to another.
A quick look at the clubs that Nigerians are interested in reveals that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have a very large following. In fact, research from NOIPoll shows that Chelsea is in the lead at 24%, followed by Manchester United at 23% and Arsenal at 21%.
Needless to say, people who follow these teams often wager on them as well. This is why many local bookmakers offer extra markets when these three teams are playing. In fact, you can even find unique bonuses like ACCA boosts, free bets, and even a no deposit bonus.
European Football is Much Easier to Watch
Sports broadcasting and betting are closely related because people like watching the game when they bet on it. Although the NPFL is also broadcast, the league is nowhere near the EPL in terms of viewership.
European football gets a lot more local broadcasting, which allows people to follow all kinds of teams. The Premier League is definitely more popular than the rest because some matches are heavily promoted and widely discussed.
When it comes to the NPFL, StarTimes held the broadcasting rights, but the contract ended after two years. Until the league finds a new partner, all NPFL matches will be available on the dedicated live platform. In fact, Gbenga Elegbeleye, the league’s chairman, said that there are significant improvements in the live coverage for the 2026/27 season.
There is more information about European teams
People who want to bet on football usually want to learn more information about the clubs. This is a lot easier nowadays because the internet opens many doors, but the truth is that European leagues offer much more detail.
People can always check previous matches, recent goals, home/away records and expected lineups. What’s more, there are also loads of betting tips that can be very handy if people are not entirely sure what to choose.
When it comes to the Nigeria Premier Football League, you just can’t find that much information. Sure, some sources will provide you with some details, but they’re not easily accessible. The difference becomes very obvious once betting moves beyond just predicting which team will win the game.
The Betting Options – European Matches Offer Bettors More Options
The next reason Nigerian bettors choose the European leagues over the NPFL is the sheer number of betting options. Yes, people will find options like 1×2, Over/Under, and Draw No Bet when wagering on both competitions. However, European leagues can offer many more options.
Depending on the bookie, you can come across markets like Asian handicap, cards, corners, player to score, player assists, team totals, first-half markets and live betting options. The number of markets will depend largely on the bookie you choose and the specific match.
Some of the big Nigerian online bookmakers are trying to provide more options for the NPFL to make it more appealing. There has been some progress lately, but even the most anticipated clashes lack the depth of what’s available elsewhere.
There are Many Nigerian Players in the Leading European clubs
Another big reason Nigerians love European football is the presence of players from their country. There are many Nigerian players in the big European leagues, so it’s no surprise that local fans are interested in them.
Arsenal’s fans may remember Nwankwo Kanu, one of the club’s main players several years ago. He made Arsenal very popular in the African country and the club still has fans from all age groups.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni is another name Nigerian fans will recognize, as he played for Portsmouth, Everton, Blackburn, and Middlesbrough. We also have to mention Jay-Jay Okocha and John Obi Mikel.
These are just some of the Nigerian players who played in big European football clubs. Many of the local fans followed every step of their team.
The NPFL Has One Big Advantage – it is Local
Despite the many advantages of European football, when it comes to betting, the NPFL has one big perk- it is local. Supports can actually have a genuine connection to clubs and it seems like a lot of them do.
Going back to another NOIPolls study, close to 45% of people who followed the NPFL said they did so out of patriotism. Some of the people who took part in the survey were asked why they support a given club and they answered that it’s because it is their state club.
Over the last couple of years, the NPFL established a more stable schedule and improved its predictability. Consistency is very important because sponsors and betting companies all benefit from it.
If the local championship continues to improve, we would not be surprised if it became as popular as the EPL domestically. However, this does not mean that locals will necessarily bet on it. This is another department that needs changes.
What would Make More Nigerians Bet on the NPFL?
Increasing betting interest in Nigerian domestic football will require increasing interest in the competition itself. For starters, there should be better and more accessible live coverage. People wishing to bet on the competition need access to the various matches so they can follow them.
Statistics is another key area that needs improvement. Bettors should be able to find detailed stats about all of the important stats they check when betting.
Marketing is another key sector that many underestimate. There should be more news stories, interviews, transfer reports, and social media posts because all of these increase engagement and make it more popular. Nigerian football can definitely “steal” some ideas from the other major football competitions if it wants to stand out.
Familiarity and Trust Also Influence Betting Choices
Another important factor that people should not underestimate is familiarity. As mentioned earlier, many Nigerian football bettors are aware of the big European clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona. They recognize all of the star players and are fully aware of the rivalries. Some of them also follow Nigerian football, but most have no idea what to expect from it.
This familiarity often makes betting on European football much easier. Even casual fans will always find information about the Premier League and everything around it. As a result, many of them have some kind of information and idea about what’s going on and feel more confident when they decide to place bets.
Sadly, the situation with the NPFL is very different. People who do not actively follow the competition may struggle to name the starting players. This means betting is much more difficult because bettors have less information to work with.
Bookmakers can Help Increase the NPFL Interest
Bookmakers could play a major role in making the NPFL more interesting. Some of them are actually doing that by offering special bonuses, enhanced odds and extra live betting markets. Although this won’t transform betting habits overnight, it could introduce more people to domestic clubs and give existing fans another reason to follow the matches.
Overall, it will be hard for Nigerian football to become as popular as its European counterpart in betting. Aside from all the issues mentioned in this article, people need to be careful about match-fixing. Sadly, this remains a big problem in many parts of the world and Nigeria is one of them.
