Best Football Betting Sites In Nigeria

Football is the most popular sport in the world so naturally most bookmakers are focused on making themselves appeal to as many fans as possible. We are here to assist you in choosing the best betting sites in Nigeria. Our team's bookmaker comparison experience is at your service to find the right way for you to bet on football online.

List of Football Betting Sites in Nigeria: June 2023

Last updated: 09.6.2023

  • Live streaming
  • Up to 1500 betting markets
  • The largest range of events to bet on
  • Good sports coverage
  • Large range of gambling options
  • Live streaming is available without authorisation
  • iOS and Android apps
  • Many betting markets (up to 1500)
  • Many Esports competitions to bet on
  • iOS and Android apps
  • Large range of sports and betting markets
  • Many promotions for existing and new clients
  • Live streaming service
  • Marked reliable by millions of users
  • Large range of sports to bet on (25 sections)
  • Cash Out
  • Build a Bet (BetBuilder) feature
  • Several Boosted odds promotions
  • Fast withdrawal
  • User-friendly interface (desktop and mobile)
  • Good welcome bonus and many promos for active users
  • Sports news blog
  • Large range of betting markets
  • Simple site navigation and good Android app
  • VIP betting and Cash Out
  • Great choice of football tournaments
  • Large range of betting markets for top matches
  • Several regular promotions
  • Many payment systems available
  • Upcoming matches news blog


Facts About Football Betting in Nigeria

Nigeria has had a Professional football league since 1990 but in 2012 the NPFL management and the format of the league changed. This change allowed the signing of a TV-contract worth $34 million, and for Nigeria to become the first African league to adopt the transfer matching system.  However, two out of the last five championship seasons (2018 and 2020) were not completed. This is a good reason to think twice if you want to use sports betting sites to place bets on the winner of the tournament.


On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that for the 2020/21 season the league has Akwa United as a brand-new champion. The club went on an impressive run of 18 football matches without a loss during the season and finished with a 19-14-5 record.  The goal difference was also outstanding being +29.  It is not the best result ever as in 2015 the Warry Wolves managed to finish 2nd with +33, but it is a sign of the team's strength. Anyway, Akwa performance is worth watching and betting on.


Nigeria has many young talents and no matter what national championship you choose for betting you can find familiar faces. For the 2021 season, seven Nigerian football players are on the rosters of English Premier League teams, six players are at the Spanish La Liga, nine are at the Italian Serie A.  The Bundesliga is also a common destination for Nigerian players but it hard to count how many as some of the footballers accept invitations from German Youth National Teams and are technically no longer Nigerians. Even if you take a look at the Swedish Allsvenskan you would find out that the best forward and the top-scorer of the league is Samuel Adegbenro playing for IFK Norrkoping.


The number of Nigerian players is a good reason to improve your football betting knowledge. Several of the SuperEagles legends will assist you in choosing the Nigerian sports betting sites.


The first Nigerian to score in the UEFA Champions League, Daniel Amokachi, is the ambassador of BetBonanza. He has been promoting the company since 2019.
Legendary Jay Jay Okocha has been the BetKing for almost 4 years. Okocha looks like a perfect ambassador. He is well-known, he is involved in football betting and he looks like a true BetKing in the promotions.
African player of the Year 1997 Victor Ikpeba looks a lot more serious. And it is OK as he is a member of the NFF technical committee,  SuperSport analyst. Does he have time to smile? Surely, but with the Bet9ja mask on.
Bet9ja mask
And at last but not at least there is the 1996 Olympics champion Kanu Nwankwo, who even appeared in the Sporty Bet promo as a cartoon.

How To Choose a Football Betting Site in Nigeria?

All of the betting sites in Nigeria are focused on providing you the best options to bet on football. We can assist you with several insights into each one. We pay maximum attention to the following details:
  • Comfort (usability). We check if all the football betting odds are easy to read? Is it easy to find all the necessary information? Can I find stats and all the tournament information at the betting site?
  • Payments and withdrawal methods. Does the bookmaker support the maximum number of payment methods? Can I withdraw my winnings as soon as possible? Is the minimum and the maximum amounts for deposits and withdrawals flexible?
  • Speed. Is the web site or the mobile app easy to load? Is it clear what is happening at the moment?
  • Odds. Are the odds competitive? Are they better for any of the markets?
  • Live betting. Can you make a bet online? Is it comfortable for you? Can you find the live stats? What about streaming?

Nigerian bookies do not pay much attention to the explanations of the meaning of each bet. It might be a problem if you were not involved in betting before. So for the first step we recommend is to take a look at the guides of the betting sites to be sure you know what you are betting on.

Sportybet

SportyBet - The Best Online Football Betting Site in Nigeria for the Newcomers

The highlights section that welcomes all the players on the website is very useful if you plan to bet on European football. It is up to date, and shows truly the best options available, and makes it really easy to bet on football.

Football Highlights at SportyBet

Football Highlights at SportyBet

SportyBet pays a lot of attention to the live section and to providing the best football odds for live betting. You can be sure that you'll find the right option.

However the thing which is very important and useful for the newcomers is a bit hard to find. If you check the “How to Play” section at the bottom of the page and then choose Sports - Football options you would find the complete guide for football betting. Do not hesitate to use it.

How to Play Section At The Bottom of SportyBet Site

How to Play Section At The Bottom of SportyBet Site

5 Best Football Betting Sites In Nigeria

1xBet - Best Nigerian Football Betting Site

1xBet, known for the widest range of markets for sports events, is deservedly one of the leaders in our list of football betting sites.  The company offers a huge selection of tournaments in the football section. A bettor can choose from over 200 tournaments of different level from all over the world: FIFA World Cup, Champions League, top 5 European Leagues, Nigeria PFL, other African Championships, minor leagues of the Solomon Islands, Morocco and Oman, friendly matches, women, youth and junior tournaments as well as student leagues.

1xBet pays the most attention to major international tournaments. For FIFA World Cup, Champions League and other European competitions, there is a huge range of betting markets, including exclusive accumulator bets for certain matches, as well as live streaming and a variety of long-term options to bet on. There are more than 1500 markets offered for several league levels in England, Germany, Spain, Italy and France.

Melbet - Best Football Betting Site In Nigeria

Football at Melbet ranks first in terms of the number of tournaments presented and the range of betting markets. It is one of the best football betting sites in Nigeria. The bookmaker regularly offers around 2000 football events that users can bet on. They range from FIFA World Cup matches, European Championships and international club tournaments to minor league games in Taiwan and Mauritania, women's championship in Northern Macedonia, university competition, MLS 5x5, KLASK-football and table football.

For the main matches, the bookmaker provides more than 1500 betting markets. Apart from O/U and handicap bets, there are also individual results, time slots, Asian markets and combination bets.

Live streaming is available for many football matches, and you can watch it even without having an account on the betting site. 

For fans of non-standard betting, there is an option "Alternative matches" - bets on the outcomes of non-existent games, the settlement of which depends on the results of specified teams in real matches.

Betwinner - Best Nigerian Football Betting Site

Betwinner is among the best soccer betting sites in Nigeria. The company meets all the basic needs of football betting enthusiasts. On this betting site, customers will find bets on top competitions as well as rare niche tournaments. For example, among English tournaments, there are Premier League, Women's Super League, Youth U21 tournaments, and lower divisions up to level eight in the English football structure. Bets on national championships are available for many countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, South and North America. There are also bets on the Australian A-League.

The bookmaker offers more than 6000 betting markets for the most popular football matches. Apart from O/U, handicaps and Asian markets, there are bets on individual performance, as well as statistics on corners, yellow cards, shots on goal, offsides, fouls, posts and crossbars, substitutions, outs, saves, tackles, video replays and others. In addition, there are a huge number of combination options on the top matches page.

22Bet - Best Nigerian Football Betting Site

At one of the best online football betting sites in Nigeria, 22Bet, customers can bet on tournaments from more than 70 countries from all continents. These include top leagues in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France, international tournaments among clubs and national teams, national cups, lower divisions, youth and women's tournaments, 5x5 competitions and even table football tournaments.

In addition to betting on matches and long-term betting options on the results of football tournaments, 22Bet has an "Alternative Matches" bet. A customer can bet on a non-existent sporting event, where the two specified teams are not facing each other but are playing against other opponents. The outcome of the alternative match depends on the performance of the teams from the real games. 22Bet also offers bets on team titles in the season, statistics on specific players, firing and appointing coaches and other unusual options.

Betway - Best Football Betting Site In Nigeria

Betway offers betting on football tournaments in more than 70 countries. Apart from the top leagues, which can be found on most betting sites, Betway offers bets on the championships of many African countries - Nigeria, Botswana, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania, Zambia and others. The bookmaker also offers betting on amateur, youth and junior team matches. Of course, Betway also has European club tournaments, the World Cup, the Africa Cup, and other major international competitions.

Customers can choose from over 1000 betting markets on the main football match pages. Bets on main markets, O/U, handicaps, goalscorers, assists, stats on yellow-cards and corner kicks as well as various combinations of bets. If you can't find a suitable bet in the betting markets, you can create your own unique bet using the "Build a Bet" tool. The Bet Builder allows you to create your own bet with 10 independent events.

How to Bet on Football Betting Companies in Nigeria

As we already mentioned it is not hard to find a wide range of football betting options at any of the betting sites. Most popular options are displayed right on the homepage and they are just a second away from placing the bet. If you don't yet have an account at a betting site it is not a problem at all.

Registration in Nigeria is rather simple. It might take you just a phone number (or an email address) and a password. Plus the information about your age which you can be asked to confirm you are older than 18 years and can legally use the site.

The SportyBet registration form

The SportyBet registration form

SportyBet does not have a welcome bonus but most of the other Nigerian betting sites do. The registration is the point to decide whether you need it.


There are several pros and cons to accepting a Welcome Bonus:

If you decide to take a chance and to try to play the welcome bonus, do not forget to insert the promocode or to accept the sportsbooks offer.
The Bet9ja registration form with the promocode

The Bet9ja registration form with the promocode 

The next step before placing a bet is to make a deposit. For some of the betting sites it can be as low as N100. Most of the bookmakers offer up to 20 ways to deposit so by all means you would find the best way for you.


So after you have registered and signed up to the betting site it is time to bet on football in Nigeria. If the highlighted championships and games are not what you want then you can check the Football section. Some bookmakers place it in the front menu and inside it you can find both online and pre-match events.

The Sportybet Football section

The Sportybet Football section

Others separate online and pre-match events.
The Bet9ja Live Football

The Bet9ja Live Football

Football Betting Strategy

There are many different types of football strategies. But let’s start with a few disclaimers:
  • The strategies that may guarantee a 100% profit are illegal. Even an attempt to use arbitrage (sometimes known as a surebet) may cause sanctions from the bookmaker and it is written and confirmed by you once you register at a betting site and read the rules.
  • Legal strategies are a matter of your own expertise, experience and discipline. They can result in a loss in both the short and also the long run.
  • Betting is for fun. Only gamble with money which you can afford to lose.

Your goal when football betting is to collect as much information as possible and try to find the weak points in the bookmakers lines. The more you know the more weaknesses you see.

There are a few basic rules to follow which will help you:
  • Never place all of your deposit on one bet.  Your deposit is 100%, the perfect bet is 2-3% and 5% as the maximum
  • Use single bets only. The accumulator's odds look great but the risk of the loss is higher
  • Never place a bet on a game (or tournament) you do not know at all
On the other hand, you have several useful instruments in order to construct your own strategy.
  • The tips from the experts and handicappers can be easily found all around the world. Their predictions do not guarantee a win. It is your responsibility to place a bet or not. The best thing about the tips is that they give you the general idea which game or market to choose
  • The statistical reports and the websites dedicated to the stats are the must-follow for every bettor. But it is very important not to give stats too much credit. Numbers are not reality
  • The trends that the odds are following are also useful

Popular Football Betting Markets

The best football betting site in Nigeria has to provide hundreds of betting markets on football matches. Some betting sites limit themselves to classic bets on the winner of the game, handicaps and O/U. But others try to offer users more by including, for example, team and player stats in the markets. Below we detail the most popular betting markets on all Nigeria football betting sites.

Bets on the outcome

There are 3 main outcomes in a football match. A win for Team 1, a draw and a win for Team 2. Choose one of the options - this is a bet on the outcome. In the betting markets in Nigeria, a bet on the main outcome may be described as 1X2 (1 - Team 1 to win, X - draw, 2 - Team 2 to win), the words "Home-Draw-Away" or the names of the teams.

This bet is usually settled at the end of two halves: 90 minutes and added time. If it is a cup match, where extra time and penalty shoot-out are possible, you can clarify with the support team at which point the outcome of this bet is decided.

Double chance

Double outcome bets combine 2 options from the main outcomes. For example, the bet will win if the outcome of the match is a win for Team 1 or draw (1X), a win for Team 2 or draw (X2) and a win for Team 1 or win for Team 2 (12). This is a low-risk bet: when you combine 2 outcomes, the chances of winning increase, but the odds are lower.

Draw No Bet

This bet is something in between a Win bet and a Double chance. If you place a Draw No Bet on Team 1, you will receive winnings if they win. In case of a draw, you will get your money back (the bookmaker will settle the bet at odds of 1.00). If Team 2 wins, you lose the bet.

Correct score

You have to guess the exact number of goals scored by each team, which forms the correct score. The bookmakers offer great odds on this market. But it is also very difficult to win a bet. In theory it is slightly easier to predict the correct score in matches where few goals are expected.

Winner of the half/match

You have to choose the team that wins the first half and the main outcome of the whole match. This way, you win if you predict both events correctly. The best odds you can get on this market are when you select 1/2. This is a scenario where one team wins the first half and the other team wins the full match.

Over/Under bets

Are you not ready to name a winner, but think you can predict how many goals will be scored in a match? That's what the O/U betting market is for: the bookmaker indicates a number and you have to decide whether the total number of goals will be over or under at the end of the two halves. A typical football O/U is 2.5 goals. If 3 goals are scored, the Over bet wins, if less, the Under bet wins.

Both Teams to Score

The key here is to predict if both teams will score or not. If you think that each team will score at least one goal, you have to bet "Both Teams to Score - yes". If you think one of the teams will not score, choose "no". And if you're hoping for a 0-0 draw (both teams don't score), bet on the correct score with high odds.

Handicap

A handicap bet is a bet where one of the teams has a conditional advantage. The bet will win if, after subtracting or adding a specified number of indicators (goals, corners, yellow cards, etc.), your team wins. There are handicap bets on the favourite (with a minus sign) and on the underdog (with a plus sign). Example: If you bet that Team 1 will win with a handicap -1.5 by goals, the selected team must have at least two goals advantage (2:0, 3:0, 3:1, etc.) for the bet to win. This -1.5 is deducted from the actual result.

Bets on goalscorers

Try to guess the author of a goal scored. There are several varieties of this bet: anytime goal, first goal, last goal, first half goal, and etc. The odds on goalscorers are quite high compared to other bet types.

Bet Builder

With the Bet Builder you can combine several selections from the same event. This is similar to Acca, but for a single football match. The more events you select, the higher the odds will be. But if at least one event from your Bet Builder fails, the whole bet is lost.

Football Betting Odds

The football odds are a crucial point to consider before making a bet. The quality of odds will depend a lot on the market you choose. If you play the best European football competitions or the Nigerian championship you can be sure that the odds of most of the betting sites would be almost the same. The bookmaking business is a competitive one so there is no reason even for the newcomers to make outstanding odds.

If you take a look at some of  the games in the other, not so famous football leagues the situation would be different. It is a strong point for the international bookmakers such as 1хBet or MelBet. They have experts in most of the countries and can afford the risk of low margins.

On the other hand national or regional bookmakers such as Bet9ja or NairaBet have expertise in the low divisions of Nigerian championship. So if you're betting on your local team, these bookmakers would be the first option.

In general, if you would compare all the Nigerian betting markets and the odds you can determine the average bookmaker margin. For football, the good level is below 5%, normal is in between 5-7%.

Top 3 Football Betting Sites With The Highest Odds in Nigeria

#

Logo

Bookmaker

Margin

Offer

Website

1
1xbet

1xBet

2,99

2