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Afropari Team
2025-12-26 17:30:00

How to Bet on Football Games Online in 2026 — Simple Beginner’s Guide (Africa)

How to Bet on Football Games Online (Beginner’s Guide for Africa)

One of the most popular sports in Africa is soccer. Dynamic and sometimes unpredictable, it attracts many fans. That is why soccer is a popular betting sport on Afropari. Let's take a look at how to bet on soccer games and what to pay attention to.

What You Need Before You Bet on Football

Any bets require careful preparation by players. Let's list the main points:

  • Only adults can gamble for money. It is strictly prohibited for younger internet users.
  • KYC is required on any platform. This means that the user must provide their data to confirm their identity. This can be a passport or driver's license.
  • Payment methods. To start playing for money, you need to top up your deposit. To do this, you can use a bank card, mobile money, or an e-wallet. You may need to create an account first.
  • Stable internet. For sports betting you need a fast internet connection. This is especially important for Live games.
  • Understanding of terms and odds. To place the right bets on football, you first need to learn the terminology. It is also important to know the odds and how to use them.

Step-by-Step: How to Place a Football Bet Online

To understand how to bet on football games, you should study this step-by-step guide:

  • Download the betting platform app to your mobile device or open the website page in your browser on your computer. The mobile app is fully adapted for smartphones, so it is easy to use. Also log in to your account.
  • In the sports section, select soccer. Here you can also select the league and match.
  • Study the markets that the bookmaker offers. For beginners, the easiest and most understandable choice will be totals over/under or BTTS.
  • Specify the amount of the bet. Here you can also check the potential payout in case the bet turns out to be a winner.
  • Add bet slip and confirm your bet. After that, it is impossible to get your bet money back, so check all fields carefully when filling in.

You can track the status of your bet later. If you want to withdraw funds after winning, then you should take care of connecting the appropriate channels in advance.

Main Football Bet Types (with Simple Examples)

When learning how to bet on soccer, one of the main points is understanding the types of bets. Let's look at the most common ones with explanations:

  • 1X2 (Match Result). This is a simple bet on one of the match results. It assumes the victory of one of the teams or a draw. The result is calculated immediately after the end of playing time, i.e., 90 minutes. Extra time or penalties do not affect the bet.
  • Double Chance (1X/X2/12). This bet takes into account two of the three outcomes in a soccer match. For example, 1X is a draw/home win, X2 is a draw or away win, and 12 is a win for either team (a draw is not taken into account).
  • Draw No Bet (DNB). A bet that involves a refund if the teams draw. If the team you bet on wins, you get your winnings. If the team loses, then the bet is lost.
  • Over/Under (Totals). A bet that indicates the number of goals scored. Totals are set by the operator and the player only needs to select the appropriate option. In this case, you need to look carefully at the odds, because if it is +2.5, then the team needs to score three or more goals to win.
  • Both Teams To Score (BTTS). This bet assumes that both teams will score a goal. If one team does not score a single goal during the match, the bet is lost.
  • Asian Handicap/European Handicap. The main difference between these types of bets is that Asian handicap uses fractional numbers, while European handicap uses whole numbers. Thus, Asian handicap completely excludes a draw.

Quick Guide — Popular Football Markets & What They Mean

Market

What It Means

Simple Example

Quick Note

1X2

Home win/Draw/Away win

Pick “1”

if home team to win

Most common

pre-match market

Double Chance

Cover two outcomes

“1X” covers home

 win or draw

Lower odds, higher safety

Draw No Bet

Win if your side wins;

stake returned on draw

Pick Team A DNB

Reduces draw risk

Over/Under 2.5

Total goals over

or under the line

“Over 2.5”

if you expect ≥3 goals

Lines vary (1.5, 2.5, 3.5)

BTTS

Both teams to score?

Yes/No

“Yes” if both likely to score

Popular in balanced matches

Asian Handicap

Spread balances teams

Team A −0.5 must win;

+0.5 avoids loss

Can refund/half-win/half-lose

Odds, Stake & Potential Payout — Read Them Right

When placing sports bets, players must have a good understanding of odds and their types. One of the simplest types of odds is decimal odds. They are calculated using the following formula:

potential payout = stake x odds

Using this formula, bettors can easily estimate their potential profit. It is worth noting that lower odds offer a higher chance of making a profit. High odds, on the other hand, are placed on outcomes with a low probability.

Deposits & Withdrawals (Mobile-First for Africa)

Players from Africa can easily replenish their deposit and withdraw cash from their account using the provided payment channels. These include:

  • bank cards (Visa, MasterCard);
  • mobile money (MTN Mobile Money )
  • electronic wallets (M-Pesa, Airtel Money).

Please note that any financial transaction requires identity verification. This is due to the need to prevent fraud and money laundering. It is worth noting that all data in the documents provided must match the bank details. Otherwise, the transfer may be blocked.

Live Betting & Cash Out — What to Know

Live betting can be done both in online casinos and betting shops. However, in the latter case, live football broadcasts are more spectacular and convey the atmosphere of the playing field. However, it is important to remember to keep track of your bets, as rapid changes on the field lead to changes in the odds. That is why it is very important to monitor the bookmaker's actions and confirm your bets on time. Some betting platforms also offer a Cash Out button, allowing players to close a bet before full time. This can help protect winnings or limit losses, but it should be used carefully.

This approach will allow you not to miss out on profits. However, for in-play betting, you need to have the necessary amount in your account.

Football Betting Tips & Best Practices

Studying how bet on football games, the rules will be quite uncomplicated. However, preliminary you need to perform a few routine actions:

  • Study the selected odds, as well as the benefit of betting. If there is no clear understanding of how the bet works, it is better to choose another one. This will help to avoid unnecessary and unjustified spending, because, having confirmed the coupon code, it is impossible to return the bet.
  • Study all the bookmaker's offers. It is quite possible that you will be able to find a more suitable bet for a particular situation.
  • Check the conditions of bonus offers. Many of them require wagering, which entails mandatory deposit replenishment.
  • Set a clear budget for spending. Spending limits on bets will help not to empty the balance and enjoy the game for a long time. Also, do not try to win back if you have already lost many bets. In this case, you should simply stop playing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When doing football betting for beginners, it is very easy to make mistakes. Let's look at the most common ones and how to avoid them:

  • Exceeding your budget. Before playing, you need to set limits for the day or session, and then not exceed them. Otherwise, you can easily spend all your money.
  • Betting without considering market rules. Before betting, it is important to study the rules that exist in the market. This will give you an understanding of the different types of bets and when they can be used.
  • Not understanding the odds. There are several types of odds that differ significantly from each other.
  • Lack of good internet connection in Live mode. All odds in this mode change very quickly. That is why it is important to have a good internet connection to react quickly.
  • Ignoring the need to check payouts on bets. Before placing a bet, you need to carefully check the outcome if it turns out to be a winner.

It is recommended to follow the principles of responsible gambling to enjoy betting on soccer.

FAQ — How to Bet on Football Games

What is the simplest football bet for a beginner?

The simplest bet in football is a single match outcome.

How to read decimal odds for football?

Decimal odds are calculated using the formula: stake x odds. For example, for a $100 bet, odds of 1.5 will yield a total return of $150 (net profit $50).

What is BTTS and when should it be used?

BTTS is a bet that both teams will score. It is suitable when two teams of equal strength take to the field.

How much bankroll do I need to start with?

The player must decide for themselves how much money to deposit. This depends on their goals.