The Sunday Mail
Sports are popular everywhere in the world. But different nations like different sports. People agree on a couple of them to be “cool” pretty much everywhere in the world. But aside from them, Asians, Australians, and Europeans have different tastes in sports. And Africans, too – although their preferences are more cosmopolitan than you may expect. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the sports that African bettors like the most – and the ones they bet on the most.Cricket
Cricket is a game that didn’t really take off in Europe – except for its native England, of course. Some say Baseball might have been inspired by it, although Americans will be the first to deny any relationship between the two. But in Asia, and certain African countries, cricket is big.
Cricket is one of the major sports in Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia. So much so that the best online casinos in South Africa all have slot machines inspired by this amazing game in their libraries. And let us not even get started about the number of cricket bets they place.
Rugby
South Africa is the rugby capital of Africa – the Springboks are world-famous, known even by those who otherwise don’t follow the sport. But Mzansi is not the only rugby powerhouse on the continent. Namibia’s Welwitschias are currently ranked 21st in the world, and the teams from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, and Cote D’Ivoire are also in the top 50 in the world. This wouldn’t be possible without their fans – and their sponsors, including the betting shops where the locals love to bet on this sport.
Soccer (Football)
Finally, here is the sport that leads in the preferences of fans and bettors all over the world, including Africa: soccer, or association football. Today, there’s no sport that’s as universally loved and followed all over the globe. Some estimates put the number of football fans to about 4 billion – around half of the world’s population follows it. Africa is not an exception – soccer is hugely popular here.
The reasons for football’s popularity in Africa are multiple. On the one hand, all major football events, both local and international, are broadcast across the country. Then, there’s an increasing number of African players at major European clubs: there are Senegalese and Ivorian footballers playing in the French Ligue 1, Mozambican and Angolan players in Portugal, and several Nigerian, Ghanaian, and Zimbabwean players all over Europe – think Marvelous Nakamba and Admiral Dalindlela playing in the English Premier League. Finally, there’s the ever-improving international performance of African teams. Think Senegal’s Lions de la Téranga reaching the FIFA World Cup Group Stage and beating Ecuador in Qatar last winter.
Football is popular in Africa, and so is football betting. Punters all over the continent follow the odds and results of the many football matches from the top leagues. It is the most popular sport among bettors in Africa and all over the globe.
Final words
While cricket has found a strong following in countries like Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia, rugby has emerged as a force to reckon with, and football rules supreme among the preferences of African sports fans. With its immense popularity, extensive broadcasting, and the rise of African players in top European leagues, football continues to captivate fans and bettors across the continent, making it the undisputed favourite sport among African bettors.
