It's no news that Nigerians love football - with local competitions like the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), African Cup of Nations (AFCON), and the African Nations Championship (CHAN) drawing widespread followership nationwide. Even more, Nigerians aren't only watching the game, they're also betting on their favorite teams and players.
Thanks to the availability of smartphone technology and growing internet penetration, the nation stands as the continent's largest sports gambling market, with about 71% participation. However, beyond the local leagues and tournaments, foreign football leagues enjoy massive followership from Nigerian football fans and punters.
In this review, we explore the most followed football leagues among Nigerian bettors, plus why they stand out for Africa's largest sports betting hub.
1. English Premier League (EPL)
The English Premier League is extremely famous among Nigerian sports lovers and bettors. The English top flight is home to some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
The league also features some of football's biggest stars, including Erling Haaland, Mohammed Salah, British-Nigerian Bukayo Saka, and Cole Palmer, all with massive followings globally. Add all that to top-notch media coverage, a passionate fanbase, and rich club history, and it's easy to see why many Nigerian punters who use
PinUp and other bookmakers bet on EPL games.
Moreover, unlike other football leagues where a couple of teams dominate, the EPL is fiercely contested and virtually has no "upsets". This adds to the league's intrigue as bettors have more chances to spot value in odds and make a profit.
2. UEFA Champions League
There's no mention of the most followed football leagues among Nigerians and PinUp Nigeria users without the UEFA Champions League (
UCL) - for various reasons. The most competitive football league in the world attracts the biggest names in European football, with powerhouses like Barcelona, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain facing off for the continent's highest prize in club competition.
Thankfully, with the new UEFA Champions League format, Nigerian football fans who use PinUp casino online and other sportsbooks globally can watch mouthwatering clashes between bigger sides during the league phase early on, adding to fans' excitement all season long. Without needing to wait till the knockout stages to bet on high-profile UEFA Champions League matches, punters in Nigeria and globally have even more betting opportunities on matches, player records, events, and upsets.
Consequently, because of the high level of competition, punters who want to bet on these matches on the PinUp app and other bookmakers must study statistics and data and commit to in-depth analysis. As seen from several PinUp reviews, doing due diligence before wagering on UCL events makes it easier for bettors to make better informed choices.
3. Italian Serie A
With multiple league winners over the last decade, the Italian Serie A stands as one of the most fiercely contested professional football leagues in the world. Napoli, Inter Milan, and Juventus have changed hands on the Scudetto over the last decade, much to the delight of a passionate fanbase locally and internationally.
The league may not be as attractive as it once was for the world's best players. But it still plays host to popular football stars like Lautaro Martinez, Ademola Lookman, Rafael Leao, Luka Modric, Marcus Thuram, and Kevin De Bruyne.
4. Spanish La Liga
Spain is home to the two biggest teams in club football - Real Madrid and Barcelona. Over the last two decades, the rivalry between both sides has become fiercer, as its world-class footballers contest for local dominance.
Legendary names like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez, Kareem Benzema, Ronaldinho, Xabi Alonso, and Neymar may no longer play in La Liga. But a new generation of Balon d'Or-level athletes in the league, such as Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Vinicius Jr, and Mbappe, are keeping up the fun and excitement of football fans and bettors globally.
Then there's the intense drama that comes with the El Clásico and attractive possession that makes the league even more attractive. When you add all of these up, it isn’t surprising to see why many Nigerian football punters continue to wager on events in the league.
5. German Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is notorious for a fast-paced attacking prowess that dazzles and excites many Nigerian football fans. With clubs like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen, and superstars like Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Alejandro Grimaldo, Serhou Guirassy, and Karim Adeyemi, there's plenty to draw neutrals. This also explains why Nigerian punters who use PinUp Africa and other bookmakers consistently patronize the league.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s huge domination - save for
Bayer Leverkusen’s upset in the 2023/24 season - makes it easy for newbies to pick a likely winner every week. Beyond that, there are other exciting betting markets like:
- Both team to score
- Over 1.5
- Double Chance
These make predictions easier for Nigerian Bundesliga fans on PinUp official platforms. The league also offers a lower barrier-to-entry for new football bettors.
Conclusion
Football is Nigeria's most loved sport, as millions of fans tune in weekly to watch exciting local and foreign league matches. This is also why football betting has become increasingly popular in the country, as more fans seek to win rewards from their knowledge of the sport. Moreover, thanks to the fun and popularity of top leagues like the EPL, UCL, Serie A, La Liga, and Bundesliga, Nigerian bettors have lots of betting markets to explore for a chance to win real money rewards.
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