Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Africa

Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Africa can be accessed below.

 

Newsonline understands that Africans are ardent sports lovers. That intense love has now transformed into a growing passion for sports betting. 

Today, the widespread use of smartphones across the continent makes it easy for millions of Africans to follow their favourite sports through a live feed. As a result, sports fans can now participate in robust online sports betting and gambling.

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Gambling is allowed in some form in almost all 54 countries in Africa. While there are a few exceptions, most nations have been creating regulations that will allow more registered betting companies to participate in the industry.

Recent data show that there’s a rising trend in the amount expended on online betting. The industry is expected to move from annual revenue of $3 billion in 2021 to about $5.6 billion in 2030.

Whether you are reading this in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, or Zambia, you will be delighted to know there are many sports you can bet on. For anyone new to online sports betting on the continent, here are the most popular sports that attract African bettors.

 

1. Football

Naturally, football or soccer is the most famous game for sports lovers to bet on. Many African countries have their national heroes playing in the top European leagues. 

Egyptians have Mohammed Salah, the Senegalese have Sadio Mane, and Pierre Emrick Aubameyang is a hero of the Gabonese national team. Africans, who follow European football, also adore great footballers like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Different competitions and leagues draw Africans to betting review sites like betfromafrica.com, where they can obtain special soccer accumulator bonuses, and find competitive odds to increase their rewards from betting.

Some of the most popular soccer tournaments that Africans love to wager on are the prestigious African Cup of Nations, the FIFA World Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. There’s also the Spanish La Liga, English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, and French Ligue 1.

2. Rugby

Rugby is growing in popularity in various countries on the continent. Today, South Africa is the predominant rugby-playing nation. The national team, locally known as the Springboks, has won the Rugby World Cup three times. They hosted it and won it in 1995, and they repeated the feat in 2007 and 2019.

Different South African teams compete in their Super Rugby competition. The tournament is now also available on some popular sports betting sites. Punters may also bet on the yearly Africa Cup and the exciting World Rugby 7 Series where countries like Kenya and South Africa represent Africa.

3. Professional Basketball

Basketball has been a popular sport in Nigeria since the 1960s. Annually, many African national teams compete for the prestigious AfroBasket.

Just like football and rugby, basketball fans take advantage of different online betting platforms to bet on the outcome of matches of their favourite teams.

The most popular basketball league among Africans is still the American NBA. African basketball lovers enjoy betting on games played by top teams like the Chicago Bulls, L.A. Lakers, Utah Jazz, and Boston Celtics.

4. Cricket

Like rugby, South Africa has one of the best national teams in Africa. The country has the highest number of appearances in the T20 World Cup. 

Other countries that have formidable national cricket teams in Africa are Kenya and Zimbabwe. Online betting sites cover most of the popular world competitions and test cricket games every year. 

5. Tennis

Tennis is a great sport for betting because it allows you to bet on every point, game, or set. Mobile betting apps also allow players to place their bets online during live games.

In Africa, it is possible to enjoy great odds in various international tournaments during the annual tennis calendar. Betting sites offer fantastic odds on all the major ATP/WTA tournaments, including the U.S. Open, French Open, Australian Open, and, of course, Wimbledon. 

During these competitions, as with many others, upsets are known to be part and parcel of the sport. Predicting the outcome of such games can offer substantial financial rewards for those that are intimately familiar with the players on tour.

6. Mixed Martial Arts

This sport is a combination of boxing and traditional martial arts. It has grown in popularity on the continent in the last two decades.

Africans have excelled in different weight categories of this sport. Names like Francis Ngannou (heavyweight), Israel Adesanya (middleweight), and Kamaru Usman (welterweight) readily come to mind.

Fans of MMA can now bet on sites available to African bettors. Look out for odds provided by bookmakers for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. This annual competition draws millions of fans across the globe and showcases the skills of old names and upcoming stars of the game.

 

These popular sports and many others like hockey, golf, horse racing, and motor racing are available on quality betting sites that are accessible to African betting markets. For those that follow these sports closely and are familiar with all the ins and outs, having such platforms at their disposal presents real opportunities to earn some money and walk away winners, much like their favourite teams or sportspeople.