Learning how to bet on football could either be challenging or a walk in the park. It all depends on the means you use to figure out the hows, whens, and whys behind placing a soccer bet.
This guide will not only share the basics you need to know about how to bet on football but also reveal some betting strategies, among others, to start sports betting on the right foot.
Best football events to bet on
Before you start betting on AFCON or another soccer competition, let’s begin with the top events on this planet for soccer fans. Among the most popular and prestigious football tournaments in the world include:
FIFA World Cup
A leading competition in the football stardom that is awarded every four years since 1930. It is also one of the most watched (if not THE most watched) sporting event. It is said that over one billion people viewed the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Germany; a number that constantly increases by the year.
It is a competition where 32 countries from across the globe cross their swords for a chance to receive the crown and obtain the title of the World Cup holder. As of now, Brazil holds the first place, being the country with the most cups (5 in total).
UEFA Champions League
Introduced in 1955, the European Champion Club’s Cup is an annual club football competition that draws millions of football fans. In 1992, it got its recent name, the UEFA Champions League, and includes not only national leagues from all over Europe but also several entrants from certain other countries.
The tournament begins in late June and reaches an end at around May, with the winner of the Champions League also qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. Real Madrid has won the competition a total of eleven times, which puts it on top of the throne, at least, for now.
The competition has been won by 22 clubs, 12 of which have won it more than once. Real Madrid is the most successful club in the tournament’s history, having won it 13 times which puts it on top of the throne, at least, for now. Liverpool are the reigning champions, having beaten Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 in the 2019 final.
 Bet on Champions League at 1xbet
FIFA Women World Cup
Another popular international football competition inaugurated in 1991, where senior FIFA women’s national teams are fighting for the Cup. The tournament runs every four years and was once referred to as the FIFA Women World Championship.
Four national teams have won the seven competitions that have taken place up to this moment, with the USA being the current champion and holder of three titles. In 2018, the Nigeria national women’s football team (nicknamed the Super Falcons) won the title at the 9th African Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, which sealed their passage to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Africa Cup of Nations
Also referred to as Total Africa Cup of Nations and AFCON, the tournament is among the top three Nigerian football events and the primary international association football competition in Africa.
It was first held in 1957, when it only had three participants, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt. Since then the tournament has grown up to 24 teams, which will participate in this years Africa Cup of Nations
This years 2019 Africa Cup of Nations was the 32nd edition and was organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament was hosted by Egypt and took place from 21 June – 19 July.Â
The tournament was initially supposed to be hosted by Cameroon. The exact dates of the tournament were switched when Egypt was chosen to replace Cameroon as hosts in order to avoid clashing with Ramadan. In the final, Algeria defeated Senegal 1–0, winning their second title and first since 1990. Nigeria came third after beating Tunisia 1–0 in their third-place play-off match. In the beginning, it was scheduled to start January but was moved to June. The event is held in odd-numbered years as a means to not collide with the FIFA World Cup.
Don’t miss your chance to bet on the AFCON 2021. The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations  is scheduled to be the 33rd edition of the AFCON. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon in June 2021.
How to bet on football
To even begin to know how to bet on football, you need to find out more details about the most essential betting markets. This section will go through some of the fundamental bet types related to soccer.
1X2 Betting
To win money with this form of soccer betting, you need to predict the result of the match correctly. This refers to the full-time outcome.
For instance, in the Benfica vs. Galatasaray match, you can either back Benfica to win (1.48) or Galatasaray to come on top (6.24). You may also bet on draw (4.70). If your guess is right, the bet wins.
Double Chance
This type of bet is similar to 1X2 with the only difference that you bet on the outcome of the match. In this case, though, you don’t predict one rather than two results (grouped in twos), which improves your chance of return on your bet. Note, though, that, in this case, the odds are lower than with the 1X2 bet type as you can see in the screenshot below.
It is a good bet type if you are not certain about who to back and need some assurance. In the previous example, the double chance bets are (1) Benfica or Draw (1.09), (2) Galatasaray or Benfica (1.17), and (3) Galatasaray or Draw (2.60). Such a bet type wins if you guess correct one of the two selections.
Correct Score
As its name suggest, the Correct Score is a bet type where you need to predict which team will win the game and is a good type of bet to use when you have a gut feeling about one team. Now, if that gut feeling is backed with great odds, then seriously consider it. In our example, the odds were on Galatasaray to win (2.88) so if this feels right to you, then give it a try!
Football betting strategies
Before deciding where to put your money, consider the following key information, if you want to learn how to bet on football and stand a good chance to win:
Head-to-Head Records
Look at teams’ past performances. Most of the times, history repeats itself. Even among teams that bare the same quality, there is always one that gets the better of the other, whether it is because they have confidence from having beaten their opponent before or due to the style of play or whatever else.
The only exception is perhaps teams that were once hugely funded and are now not or vice versa. In this case, the past will have very little to show you about the present and future.
Current form
The current form of any sports person or team is important, and football is no exception. Did the team win because the goalkeeper was in great form that day? Does the team achieve better results because they celebrate every win? Is the team focusing on taking the lead just before half-time? These things you should know.
Home Advantage
Some teams play great at home while other do better when away. In the 2016/17 Premier League season, though, nearly half the games were won by the home team. Although not the rule here, it is definitely something to consider.
Team Status
Is anyone hurt from the team? Who will be replacing them? How much of a difference will that player’s absence make to the team? How tired is team X compared to team Y? Could something put players down, like extreme altitude or too much heat or cold?
Motivation
How much does the team want the next victory? Did their previous loss demoralise them? Are there players playing against their old clubs?
Best football betting sites
Betting on football is a dance that requires a great partner. If you want to ace online sports betting, then you must find the best operators. The table below gives an overview of the top football betting websites in Nigeria.
Combine the details you already know with what these bookmakers offer you and you will be on the way to learn how to bet on football like a pro, whether this include betting on African Cup of Nations or whichever other tournament of your likes.
Now, if you want somewhere to start, the following bookmakers are the right place to do that. They offer not only compelling welcome bonuses for their new players but also special promos, good odds, a wide range of betting markets, and more soccer than you can imagine!
| Bookmaker name | Sign up bonus | Our rating |
|---|---|---|
| Bet9ja | 100% deposit bonus up to 100,000 Naira | 4.5/5 |
| Betway | 100% match up to ₦100,000 as a Free Be | 4.0/5 |
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