The regular Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season is in its final stretch. There are just about 13 match days left. The top sides are separated by a few points. This means that the battle for entry into continental tournaments such as the CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Champions League is becoming high-pitched.
It’s tight at the top of the NPFL standings. However, this closeness opens up the doors for betting opportunities. In this guide, we’ll give context on the NPFL’s qualification regulations and bets you can place as the league reaches its climax.
What’s the NPFL’s stance on qualification into continental tournaments?
In the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), only the top three teams are guaranteed a place in African football competitions. Here’s an overview:
- First position (Champions): Instant qualification into the CAF Champions League.
- Second position (Runner’s up): Will secure a spot at the CAF Champions League.
- Third position: Automatic qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup.
- FA Cup winner: The team that wins the Nigeria FA Cup will have a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup. If the FA Cup winner has already qualified into the CAF Confederation Cup via position, this spot will be awarded to the team directly under them in the standings.
NPFL teams don’t just fight for qualification into these continental competitions for the thrill of it. They also seek the exposure and financial incentives accompanying these tournaments. Little wonder the NPFL has hit heated and controversial climaxes in the last few seasons. Everyone just wants a taste of the pie!
Top contenders
At this point, there are several teams that could cement their place in one of these continental competitions. Remo Stars FC currently leads the pack, with Shooting Stars Sports Club (SSC) and Rivers United FC hot on their heels.
However, note that the point differential between these teams and others isn’t much. As such, anything can happen in the course of the 13 remaining match days.
What bets should you settle for as the NPFL hits its climax?
Unpredictability fills the air in the final stages of this year’s NPFL season. The big guns could falter and lower teams could mark a resurgence. Here are some bets to consider as the going gets tough:
- Outright winner of the NPFL: This market involves predicting the team that’ll lift the NPFL trophy when the season ends. Only place this bet type if the top team has a healthy number of points separating them from others.
- Top 2 finish: Forecasting the team that’ll finish in the top two places and earn instant qualification for the CAF Champions League.
- Top 3 finish: Betting on a team to finish in the top three positions and earn either CAF Champions League or Confederations Cup qualification.
- Team to qualify for the CAF Champions League or Confederations Cup: This involves placing a bet on a team to qualify for either of these two tournaments. The bet is relatively safe, as top teams are likely to secure spots in either competition.
- Regular bets: All earlier markets above are long-term bets. However, punters can also place individual bets that predict the outcome of every fixture. Notable mentions include match winner, correct score, and total goals.
The aforementioned markets are smart bets you can take as the NPFL season comes to an end. You’ll find these options not just in this tournament but other mainstream competitions (i.e., EPL and La Liga) at top bookmakers such as Unibet. Besides its wide betting variety, Betway offers generous bonuses, 24/7 customer support, and other cool betting features discussed in Cheekypunter’s comprehensive review of the platform.
Consider the bets highlighted in this guide as the NPFL regular season comes to a close. However, we recommend doing your due diligence by researching team form and head-to-head statistics, injury reports, and more. That way, you can make informed betting decisions for the most successful bets.
