Which football tournaments/leagues/races are good to bet on?
With football being a global sport, you’ll find pro leagues in every country. Of course, the level of quality is not equal everywhere. Some leagues jump in terms of quality over others, and as such, they’re more popular to bet on.
Premier League
The strongest of the top 5 European leagues, the Premier League is the dream destination for most players. Soccer bets don’t get much better than the PL. The league has several teams fighting for the title every year, and it often goes that the trophy battle goes on until the very end. Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool are the teams with the highest number of football bets placed on them.
Champions League
The Champions League is exactly what it says on the label – a league for the top European champs. It generates incredibly high interest at football betting sites and among fans and TV channels too. The CL is the most prestigious trophy a team can win, and with major European teams pitted against each other, it’s always interesting to see how each season plays out.
World Cup
The World Cup is one of the most watched football event in the world. It comes every four years, with the world’s top nations aiming to win that tile. Africa hasn’t had a lot of success in terms of world championships, but nevertheless, major teams such as Nigeria and Morocco often impress players and bettors. Millions of soccer bets are placed on the World Cup every time it comes, and bookies are always rubbing their hands when the time for it comes.
Which tournaments/leagues are the most important in football betting?
European Leagues
The five European leagues—Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and the Bundesliga—are the most popular football betting leagues. Along with the Champions League, these are the events most bettors put their money on. They also feature heavily at the front page of most Nigerian betting sites, so you won’t find it hard to put your money on them.
World Cup
The World Cup is a prestigious football event held every 4 years. It features the best teams from the world who have qualified, including many African teams. Nigeria had a solid run at the 2022 World Cup thanks to young players such as Viktor Osimhen, although it would be a while before it grows into a powerhouse.
Africa Cup of Nations
The African Cup of Nations is a tournament between the best African teams held every two years. It returned to a format of even numbered years in 2022, with the next installment coming in 2023. Nigeria has won it 3 times so far, the last time in 2013. Ten years is a long time for the Eagles without a trophy, and we’re sure that Nigerian bettors will place thousands of bets on the Eagles when the new Cup of Nations arrives.
Odds in Football Betting
Soccer bet odds rule the online sports betting market. With so many matches available every year, it’s no wonder that they dictate the value of each betting site. Of course, with so many football betting sites on the market, there’s a huge disparity in the value of football bets. This is why it’s always a great idea to create several betting profiles at the top bookies online in Africa. It’s not against the rules to shop for odds, and it’s necessary if you want to find the best odds on the various leagues and competitions.
Bettors can place both short-term and long-term soccer bets. Long-term bets such as futures are usually longer than short-term bets, although it all depends on the market. Nigerian bettors love betting on both fixed and live betting odds. The odds are highest in derbies, and lowest for favorites playing against an underdog. Underdog odds should be relatively high too, although it’s a very unlikely scenario that such a team actually wins a match against a bigger team.
The most football bets include 1×2, accumulators, and handicaps. Punters love predicting the winners of major events too. System bets are a good idea to cover your losses. Depending on the bookie, there might be a limit to the maximum combined odds, or how much money you might bet on an event or a type of bet. It should be clearly stated under the sportsbook’s terms.
Which markets are usually available for punters, when betting online?
You’ll find hundreds of available soccer betting markets online. That’s what makes online betting sites much better than land-based counterparts. It’s not like land-based shops don’t have live betting at the such, but online bookmakers are much more innovative when it comes to soccer betting.
Nigerian bettors like to shake things up and bet on more markets than match or tournament/league winners. Here are the top markets available at the majority of Nigerian betting sites:
- 1×2
- Handicap
- Totals (over/under)
- Goal betting
- Futures
- Prop bets
- Accumulator bets
- System bets
Short-term betting in football
Short-term football bets are more popular than betting on futures. The main advantage is that bettors don’t need to wait for a long time to see if they’ve won. In Nigeria, the most popular short-term soccer bet by far is 1×2 betting. That’s betting on the home or away team to win the match, or the match ending in the most unpopular way – a tie.
Other important short-term football betting markets are handicaps, totals, goal betting, half-time/full-time betting, and prop bets. Team stats betting is important too, although this is a market more suitable for seasoned bettors.
Long-term betting in football
Long-term football bets are quite popular for the major leagues and tournaments. This is a market that’s especially popular for international tournaments including the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations. Compared to short-term bets, you must wait for a long time to see the results. For example, if you put your money on Nigeria in the Cup of Nations, you must wait for weeks to see if your bet wins.
But, the advantage you get are the higher odds which is definitely great as every punter is looking for the best value. It’s also harder to predict a future event rather than a match winner, although with some luck, even a beginner can win these bets.
Live betting/In-Play betting in football in Nigeria
Live soccer bets may be the most popular market if we don’t count 1×2 betting. There are hundreds of available live soccer bets at bookies nowadays, certainly more than in the past. On top of that, the best live betting platforms also come with live streams for football’s biggest derbies and top matches, so you watch the game and bet on it at the same time.
This is a great option as you get to see the action in-play and make much better predictions. With many of the markets focused on what happens next in a live football game, live streams are a key cog in the live football betting wheel.
The best betting sites for football
1xBet
99/100
Rating
1xBet Strengthen
- A large number of betting markets
- Betting with cryptocurrencies
- In-play betting and live-streaming
1xBet is probably the most popular football betting site in Nigeria right now. It comes with a clean interface and packs a lot of punch when it comes to soccer bets. The bookie covers all the major leagues and competitions including African football. Moreover, it offers valuable free bets and great bonus offers that punters find very hard to refuse.
Both the fixed odds and live betting platforms are touted as one of the best in the industry. 1xBet established itself as a leader thanks to unique promos, many of which are for particular games. If you’re a football fan, it’s best to bookmark it. The odds value is excellent, and the cool offers and odds boosts on the top football leagues will surely appeal to all kinds of punters. If we had to pick one bookie to recommend to Nigerian bettors, this would be the one.
Parimatch
87/100
Rating
Parimatch Strengthen
- Live betting and live streaming
- Great mobile betting app
- A large number of football betting markets
Parimatch arrived on the crowded Nigerian soccer betting market in mid-2021 and made an instant impact. Modeled after the best betting exchanges, this betting site looks great on any device. It’s not a betting exchange, though, but rather a fixed odds/live betting platform. There are no live streams, but the detailed stats page is more than capable of describing what happens in the game in detail.
The odds on football are particularly impressive for a bookie that’s smaller than the rest. You also have special promotions for many of the world’s premier football matches, including free bets on the Premier League. African and Nigerian football is also on offer, and the bookie truly lights up whenever the Cup of Nations goes live. It’s a pretty good betting site that you should definitely check out if you want regular odds boosts and special promotions that will bulk up your bankroll.
22Bet
98/100
Rating
22bet Strengthen
- Live betting and live statistics
- Over 100 betting markets on big events
- eSports betting
1xBet may be the most popular betting site in Nigeria among football punters, and 22Bet trails closely behind. The bookie has a very simple and clean layout that makes navigation a breeze. You have more than 30 sports to bet on with football in the focus. It’s the first thing you’ll see on the front page, with the sportsbook highlighting the top soccer bets you can place at the moment. Of course, you’re looking at fixed odds and live betting on the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, and the Champions League along with other major and minor leagues and competitions from around the world.
The odds are pretty solid too, and you have live betting at your disposal. We especially like the stats page for the live betting soccer bets where you can find just enough details to make more informed bets. Overall, it’s one of the best picks if you’re into football bets and especially accumulators for which the bookie has special boosts.
Football betting FAQ
Absolutely. Many would say football is the best sport to bet on. Depending on the league, you should get fair odds on most competitions and enjoy soccer betting to the max.
Yes, you can. While there’s no guarantee for profit every time you bet on soccer, using good strategies can make you a better and more effective bettor.
It’s easy to get started with football betting. Even if you’re completely new to the sport, you won’t need to look far in order to find football bets, as they’re usually available on each sportsbook’s front page.
Yes, it is. Football is one of the biggest sports in the world, and sportsbooks pay a lot of attention to fair football betting markets. Of course, the fairness also depends on your bookie of choice, so always make sure you pick a trusted betting site.
The biggest stars in world football
Lionel Messi
There’s no fan of sport that hasn’t heard about Lionel Messi. Probably the biggest talent in sport ever, Messi still rules football at the age of 36. The proof is the recently won World Cup trophy with Argentina, in a tournament where his team wasn’t a big favorite. After his move to Inter Miami, Messi’s mastery came to the USA, where he’s marketed as the GOAT in football. And that’s not a wrong deduction.
On his way to winning a record-breaking 8th Ballon d’Or, Messi has impressed us with his mastery for over 15 years. It seems that time can do nothing, as he’s gotten even better with decision-making with age. A prolific goalscorer and master playmaker, Messi led one of the best squads in history under Pep Guardiola in Barcelona. While their breakup was tough to watch, the fact remains that Lionel Messi is most likely the greatest football player of all time.
Cristiano Ronaldo
If there’s one player that comes close to Messi in his prime, it must be Cristiano Ronaldo. Their battles on the field were the stuff of legend. Ronaldo has broken many goalscoring records in his career, and although his move to Saudi Arabia was controversial, he has proven he can still play at top level at the age of 38.
There’s no question that the era of Messi and Ronaldo was one of the best the football world has ever seen. Ronaldo is a lock for soccer betting fans who often bet on props and goals. He’s a prime example of how dedication and hard work on your body can prolong a player’s career. Ronaldo still looks incredible and bags goals like nothing, and will probably continue dazzling us for years.
Kylian Mbappe
Messi and Ronaldo still manage to rule the world of football. But, there’s no question that their era is coming to an end. Kylian Mbappe is supposed to lead football in a new era, except he has done so for years. He’s won everything but the Champions League and a Ballon d’Or so far at the age of 23. The world’s best football player trophy is likely coming sooner rather than later, as his talent is undeniable.
Fast, explosive, and smart, Mbappe is one of the best—if not the best—young player in the world. He plays like a much more experienced forward, though, and he has earned his comparisons with the best of the best including Messi and Ronaldo.
Erling Haaland
Haaland is Mbappe’s direct rival for the Ballon d’Or in the future. The Norwegian goal machine’s rise took just a few years, and he’s been bagging goals left and right regardless of the league. Even in the Premier League, he proved the ultimate signing for Pep Guardiola, breaking Alan Shearer’s decades old feat.
It’s rare to see a player with such a gift for goals. Haaland is the closes thing we have to Lewandowski, yet he may surpass him by the time he reaches his prime. He’s an incredible goalscorer with great instincts, and a future Ballon d’Or winner for sure.
The best football clubs in history
Barcelona
If you come from Spain, you’re either a Barca or a Real Madrid fan. Those who come from Catalunya are fierce Barcelona fans and hate everything related with the white Madrid shirt. Barcelona is one of the greatest clubs in football history and a major presence in European football, especially in the past two decades.
It has produced players that have changed the game including Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Pique, and many more. It’s second only to Real Madrid in terms of Spanish trophies, and one of the most prolific teams in Europe. The Blaugrana may be going through a sort of restructuring right now, but with young players such as Gavi, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal, future success is all but guaranteed.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid is the absolute leader in the Spanish La Liga in terms of trophies, and also the undisputed champion of Europe with a total of 13 titles. That’s a record no team can catch up very soon, unless they win 6-7 trophies in a row, which is nearly impossible in Europe. Los Blancos have a strong, champion mentality, and even if the team doesn’t look great on paper, it always plays to his best led by the top coaches such as Carlo Ancelotti.
No matter how weak the team looks on paper, you can never write it out. That champion’s mentality is something many teams lack, and makes Real Madrid a truly distinct club and a household name.
Manchester United
Once a great team led by the iconic Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United fell a bit off the grid in the past decade. The team has been without an English major trophy for too long. The current owners are more interested in making profit from marketing by investing in expensive football players who rarely play a major role in the club’s success.
There’s no question that the Red Devils are trying to get back to where they are, and such a big club deserves it. No matter the recent hindrances, it’s still one of the top clubs in the world, and a highly marketable asset.
Summary: Best Football Betting Sites in Nigeria
Football betting is synonymous with online sports betting in general. Placing soccer bets is a default action for Nigerian punters at the best online sportsbooks. And it’s easy to do so, considering that each soccer bet site lists the top football markets on the front page. The odds can be great depending on the league, and you have so many markets to pick from that it’s easy to lose yourself in it all.
From fixed odds to live football betting, it’s the absolute leader on the field of online sports betting. If you love football, there’s no reason not to place a soccer bet.
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Bet9ja Strengthen
- Over 100 betting markets
- In-play betting and live-streaming
- Amazing mobile betting app
Read review
22bet Strengthen
- Live betting and live statistics
- Over 100 betting markets on big events
- eSports betting
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1xBet Strengthen
- A large number of betting markets
- Betting with cryptocurrencies
- In-play betting and live-streaming
