The Most Popular Sports for Betting in Nigeria in 2025

According to a 2024 report compiled by GeoPoll, 65.32% of Nigerians admitted to placing bets online. Football emerged as the most popular sport, but punters in the West African country also bet on other sports. Today, we will explore the most common sports to bet on in Nigeria.
 

Football is almost everyone’s favourite sport in Nigeria. This sport is the top choice for bettors interested in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and international leagues such as the English Premier League, La Liga, and Bundesliga. The best sports betting sites like Captainsbet 2025 Nigeria facilitate betting on football events, allowing punters to bet on local teams and international matches featuring Nigerian-born players.

While basketball is not as popular as football in Nigeria, it’s one of the leading sports most players bet on in the country. Founded in 1963, the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) is responsible for governing basketball in the country. Interestingly, the national team has participated in the FIBA Africa Championship. Today, Nigerians can place bets on local basketball teams and The FIBA Basketball World Cup among other events

Football and basketball take the lead as the most preferred betting options in Nigeria, but an increasing number of people watch and bet on tennis. Believed to originate in Europe, this action-packed sport has captured the attention of many Nigerians. The country’s leading bookmakers now cover all major tennis tournaments across the world. These include the US Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon, and WPT Finals. Players can also choose from various betting markets, including outright winner, match handicaps, set winner, and winning margin.

Cricket is an exciting sport to watch and bet on if you reside in Nigeria. While not many Nigerians are attracted to this sport, some punters in the country visit the top bookmakers to place bets on various leagues around the world, including the following:

Virtual sports betting has also gained popularity in Nigeria. This form of betting entails placing bets on software-simulated games inspired by the most popular sports. For example, if you join Captains Bet today, you can bet on the virtual Football League, Turkish League, Champions League, Penalty Shootout, and the World Cup among other simulated sports. Unlike traditional sports, these games take place 24/7, allowing bettors to bet whenever they want.

Nigerian bettors have plenty of options when it comes to the sports they can bet on. Most of them bet on football, but many sports enthusiasts also wager on basketball, cricket, tennis, and virtual sports. Whichever sport you are interested in, you can choose from a wide variety of pre-match and in-play betting options and even play with free bets and other bonuses.