Nigerians turn to betting as Premier League begins

Nigerians are optimistic of winning big in sports bets this season as the English Premier League (EPL) begins on Friday.

The 2024/25 Premier League season kicks off with Manchester United hosting Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday night. On Sunday, defending champions Manchester City will begin their title defense in a high-profile clash against a revamped, big-spending Chelsea side.

All 20 Premier League teams have been active in the summer transfer market, spending over £1.2 billion to strengthen their squads with the transfer window still open, Liverpool being the only exception, as they are yet to sign any player. The new season promises intense competition as several top clubs battle for the coveted Premier League trophy and top-four finish.

“Manchester United vs Fulham is over 3.5,” said Kunle Ajayi, a Lagos-based technician, who hopes to win at least N5 million from sports betting this season.

By ‘over 3.5’, Kunle meant that it will be a sigh-scoring game, with at least four goals, according to Goal.com.

Joshua Okereke, an Ejigbo, Lagos-based communications expert, said he has wagered his bets on all the Premier League games this weekend.

“Let’s meet on Sunday evening,” he told this reporter.

“I will take you to a pub to relax for a few minutes,” he noted.

He explained that he won over N500,000 last season, predicting that he will win four times that amount this season.

Sports betting is not only for men. Adaku Ihemezue, who runs a small business in Ogun State, said she will wager her bets on only four teams this season.

“I was disappointed last season by my bets and I hope to do better this time. I am only betting on Real Madrid in Spain, Man City and Arsenal in England, and PSG in France,” she said, noting that these teams are winners.

Revenue in the online sports betting market in Nigeria is estimated at 294.20m, according to Statista.

The industry is expected to grow by 6.45 percent, resulting in a projected market volume of $402.20m by 2029. User penetration in Nigeria is estimated at 0.5 percent in 2024 and is expected to hit 0.5 percent by 2029, Statista said.

Sports betting has however become an addiction among young Nigerians and lawmakers mooted the idea of banning it in February 2924, though this was later denied.

As the Premier League begins, here is a preview of some of the key matches from the opening weekend:

Ten Hag needs a strong start

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United, buoyed by their FA Cup triumph over rivals Man City, will look to build on that success. The Red Devils have spent heavily in the summer, bringing in Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs De Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui for a combined fee of around £171 million. However, last season’s disappointing eighth-place finish still lingers in the hearts of many fans, and a fast start is crucial to dispel any doubts surrounding Ten Hag’s leadership.

Fulham, who won at Old Trafford last February for the first time in 20 years, will hope to cause another upset. A repeat of that result on Friday could leave United fans concerned about what lies ahead this season.

Liverpool’s new era begins

All eyes will be on Liverpool as new manager Arne Slot takes charge of his first competitive game on Saturday, with the Reds travelling to newly-promoted Ipswich Town, who return to the Premier League after 20 years. Despite making no signings in the transfer window so far, Liverpool have impressed in pre-season, securing wins over Arsenal, Manchester United, and Sevilla.

A victory at Portman Road would provide a morale boost for Liverpool fans as they transition from Jurgen Klopp’s iconic era to Slot’s tenure.

Chelsea’s tough City task

New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca faces a daunting debut when his side takes on reigning champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Maresca, previously part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at City, guided Leicester City to promotion from the Championship last season and now inherits a Chelsea squad in flux.

The club’s first-team roster has been trimmed after selling over 50 players, and Chelsea have emerged as the biggest spenders this summer, with Maresca’s side making over £193 million in signings. New faces include Tosin Adarabioyo, Estevao Willian, Omari Kellyman, Filip Jorgensen, Marc Guiu, and Pedro Neto. Chelsea’s depth and squad cohesion will be tested immediately by the reigning champions.

Arsenal’s title push continues

After finishing second last season, Arsenal are poised to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title this year. Under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners have shown steady progress, and the addition of Italy international Riccardo Calafiori strengthens their squad. Arsenal are widely viewed as City’s most likely challengers in the race for the title.

In addition to City and Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur are expected to be strong contenders for top-four finishes, setting up an exciting and highly competitive Premier League season.