Sports
What Are The Most Popular Sports To Bet On In Nigeria
When you think of sports in Nigeria, the first thought that comes to mind is probably football. Jay-Jay Okocha, John Obi Mikel, and Obafemi Martins are just some of the most famous footballers that have worn the Super Eagles jersey, but Nigeria is not only about football.
Nigerians are crazy about sports, and they love to watch sporting events just as much as they want to participate in them. In fact, doing outdoor sports is the favorite pastime activity for the majority of Nigerians, but another hobby has been gaining popularity in the 21st century as well – sports betting.
Although Nigerians have been betting on football ever since the 1920s, it wasn’t a full-grown industry until the early 2000s, when the first official sports lottery was established. It wasn’t long before the first bookies in Nigeria started operating as well, and there are now dozens of bookmakers that operate legally in the country – both online and via betting parlors.
In this article, we’ll discuss the most popular sports in Nigeria among bettors, both in popularity and revenue, and talk about how the betting patterns of Nigerians might change in the future.
Football
It’s undoubtedly the most popular in Nigeria, both for bettors and participants. It’s also the sport with the most professional athletes, with over 100,000 registered professional footballers – out of which more than 500 are playing abroad.
Some Nigerian football players have been leading their teams to great success, particularly in the English Premier League, which, coincidentally or not, is also the most popular league when it comes to sports betting. All bookies in Nigeria offer odds for EPL games, and that doesn’t only include simple bets such as moneylines, parlays, and totals. Most bookmakers offer unique prop bets for all EPL matches, including player props, futures, and team props.
The EPL is not the only league where Nigerians can place bets, of course. Most bookmakers offer odds for all the major and minor leagues and competitions as well, including the UEFA Champions League, Spanish La Liga, French League 1, Italian Serie A, and more.
Moreover, Nigerians breathe football when the Super Eagles are playing – and that’s especially true when a big competition such as the World Cup is under way. Up to 85% of the population has been watching the most recent World Cup, and over 60% of them have placed at least one bet during the tournament.
Basketball
Although basketball has never been as popular as football, there have been some major NBA stars that have worn the green and white jersey. Every basketball fan remembers Hakeem Olajuwon’s dominance under the rim, but there have been several Nigerian players in the NBA in recent years as well, including Josh Okogie and Precious Achiuwa.
Basketball has become a popular sport for bettors, and most bets are placed on NBA matches. Bookies offer a wide variety of betting markets for NBA games, and the representation is even more diverse during the playoffs, when some interesting bets emerge such as player props and team props.
Tennis
Sports betting is a year-long hobby, and Northern hemisphere summer months are usually times where most leagues have their summer break. That’s not the case for tennis, though, as some of the biggest tournaments are being played in June, July, and August. Coincidentally, that’s when most Nigerians bettors turn to tennis betting.
It has become a popular sport to bet on, and with a wide variety of betting markets every day – it provides some interesting betting opportunities, especially when the more popular sports are not as widely represented.
Athletics
Nigeria has a rich history when it comes to athletics and track & field – and when a sport is enjoyed by a large population in a country, it generally means that it’s attractive for bettors too. Most bookmakers offer odds for big competitions such as the Olympics, but Nigerian bettors can find odds for other competitions as well, such as the Diamond League and the World Athletics Championships.
The race for knockout spots in Europe’s elite football competitions reaches the crunch phase this week, with matchday seven action in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
The stakes are high with some of the big names in danger of elimination. From Tuesday to Thursday, GOtv will broadcast live action of some of the big matches. Here are the key matches you can access on GOtv:
Benfica vs Barcelona: The Catalans go to Portugal knowing a win will seal their qualification spot. But the job won’t be easy. Benfica have all to play for in this tie. With 10 points from their first 6 matches, only a win can keep them in a favourable position for the playoff spot. Watch this intriguing tie live on GOtv channel 65 at 9 pm tonight.
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Leverkusen: This heavy-weight clash will be live on GOtv channel 64, tonight at 9 pm. Leverkusen are 4th in the table while Atletico are 11th, just a point behind their visitors. The coveted top eighth finish will be at stake in this clash, as all big teams try to avoid the two extra matches that come with finishing below 8th position.
Real Madrid vs Salzburg: The most successful team in UEFA Champions League history, Real Madrid, are in danger of crashing out in the group stage. Los Blancos sit 20th in the log and must win their remaining two matches, starting with this tie. Catch the action live on GOtv channel 64, at 9 pm on Wednesday.
Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb: With 5 teams tied on 13 points, the Gunners, though third in the table, know this is a perfect opportunity to solidify their claim to one of the top 8 slots. On the other hand, Dinamo Zagreb currently occupy the last playoff spot in the table, and thus have everything to play for. With Arsenal in unstable form, this could be a banana pill for them. This match will be live on GOtv channel 65, at 9 pm on Wednesday.
AC Millan vs Girona: With 7 UEFA Champions League titles, AC Milan are the second most successful team in the competition. The Rosonerri are just a point outside the top 8, and a win against Girona will surely put them in the top 8 and a chance to steal a rounf-of-16 slot. Watch the action unfold live from San Siro at 9pm on Wednesday on GOtv channel 62.
Manchester United vs Rangers: This British derby will be the key match of matchday 7 in the Europa League. Manchester United are 7th, one point ahead of Rangers in 8th. The need to avoid the two extra playoff matches will make this feisty encounter which will broadcast on GOtv at 9 pm on Thursday.
Customers can take advantage of the Step-Up offer to enjoy more football action across the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League, and Europa League.
GOtv subscribers on the Jolli package who upgrade to Max will be upgraded to the Supa package, while those upgrading to Supa will enjoy access to the Supa Plus package within 48 hours. The offer runs till March 31. Simply dial *288# to renew or upgrade your subscription.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria made history after it beat New Zealand in one of the biggest ever upsets in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia on Monday morning.
The Nigerian team, known as Young Female Yellow greens, defeated New Zealand by 2 runs in the World Cup. It is their first win against a non-African team in a major ICC tournament.
The Group C clash was played at the Sarawak Cricket Ground in Sarawak and was reduced to 13 overs per side encounter due to wet outfield.
Nigerian captain, Lucky Piety, and Lillian Udeh reached double-digits for Nigeria, scoring 18 and 19 runs, respectively.
Nigeria could only hit four fours and a six in their innings and at the halfway mark, creating opportunity for New Zealand to easily chase the target down.
The New Zealand U19 bowlers were able to restrict Nigeria to just 65 runs.
The intensity then saw both countries lose their openers with just seven runs on the board in 2.1 overs.
The New Zealand middle-order batters trio of Eve Wolland, Anika Todd and skipper Tash Wakelin lost their wickets at the wrong time.
Nigeria’s Udeh did really well in the final over to restrict the opposition conceding only three runs with the bat.
New Zealand could only score 63 runs in their 13 overs for the loss of six wickets and fell short eventually by two runs.
As soon as Captain Wakelin got run out on the last ball of the innings, Nigeria players began celebrating in ecstasy as they created history, knocking over one of the big full-member teams at the international level.
Nigeria skipper won the player of the match award for her all-round show scoring 18 runs and picking up one wicket for just eight runs in three overs.
Watch the highlights here.
The WWE Universe is in for an electrifying night this Friday as SmackDown returns to California. With high-stakes matches, dramatic returns, and the inaugural defense of the new WWE Women’s Champion, fans can expect a blockbuster evening of action. Catch all the drama live from San Diego, California, on WWE Network, GOtv Channel 68 at 1 am on Saturday.
Here’s a preview of what’s in store:
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Los Garzas: The Motor City Machine Guns, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, will clash with Angel and Humberto of Los Garzas in a high-octane tag team match.
Last week, Los Garzas triumphed over Pretty Deadly, while the Motor City Machine Guns took down A-Town Down Under. The stakes are high as these two powerhouse teams battle for the chance to become the next contenders for the Tag Team Championship, currently held by DIY’s Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano.
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton vs. Bayley: Bayley, the self-proclaimed “Role Model,” earned her shot at the WWE Women’s Championship last week in a grueling Fatal Four-Way match. Now, she faces her toughest challenge yet against the newly crowned champion, Tiffany Stratton.
Stratton seized her opportunity two weeks ago, cashing in her Money in the Bank contract to become the WWE Women’s Champion. Determined to keep “Tiffy Time” alive, she’s ready to prove she belongs at the top.
But Bayley, a Grand Slam Champion, brings over a decade of experience to this matchup. Will Stratton defend her title successfully, or will Bayley reclaim the championship she once held?
The Return of Solo Sikoa: Solo Sikoa returns to SmackDown after falling short in his quest to dethrone Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief. Despite giving everything in their brutal showdown, Sikoa was left without the coveted Ula Fala.
With Reigns now focused on the Undisputed WWE Championship and an entry into the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, the question remains: what’s next for Sikoa? Fans won’t have to wait long for answers, as the self-proclaimed former Tribal Chief will address the WWE Universe live this Friday.
Other WWE Superstars confirmed for this Episode of SmackDown: “Undisputed WWE Champion” Cody Rhodes, Nia Jax, United States Champion” Shinsuke Nakamura, La Knight, Women’s Tag Team Champions” – Bianca Belair & Naomi Prizefighter” Kevin Owens, The Enforcer” Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, Apollo Crews, among others are expected to make an appearance on the night.
Stay connected to your GOtv to enjoy Smackdown and other WWE action live by downloading the MyGOtv app or dial *288# to reconnect/upgrade your package.
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