Sports betting is a popular activity in Africa, and it’s not uncommon for people to place bets on their favorite teams and athletes. While many of these bets are won by the favorites, there have been some surprising upsets over the years that have left fans and bettors shocked. In this blog post, we will be looking at some of the biggest betting upsets in African sports history.
Nigeria vs Argentina (1996 Olympics)
The Nigerian national football team was not expected to do much in the 1996 Olympics, but they shocked the world when they defeated Argentina, one of the favorites to win the tournament. The game ended in a 3-2 victory for Nigeria, with the team’s star player, Nwankwo Kanu, scoring a hat-trick. The odds of Nigeria winning the match were as high as 12/1, making it one of the biggest upsets in Olympic football history.
Hasim Rahman vs Lennox Lewis (2001)
In 2001, Lennox Lewis was considered one of the best heavyweight boxers in the world, with a record of 38 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. However, in a stunning upset, Hasim Rahman knocked out Lewis in the fifth round to become the new heavyweight champion. The odds of Rahman winning the fight were as high as 20/1, making it one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
Zambia vs Ivory Coast (2012 Africa Cup of Nations)
In the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final, Ivory Coast was heavily favored to win against Zambia, a team that had never won the tournament before. However, Zambia pulled off a shock victory, winning the game 8-7 on penalties after the match had ended 0-0. The odds of Zambia winning the tournament were as high as 50/1, making it one of the biggest upsets in African football history.
Chad le Clos vs Michael Phelps (2012 Olympics)
In the 2012 Olympics, Michael Phelps was the favorite to win the gold medal in the 200m butterfly, an event that he had won at the previous two Olympics. However, Chad le Clos of South Africa shocked the world when he defeated Phelps by 0.05 seconds to win the gold medal. The odds of le Clos winning the race were as high as 25/1, making it one of the biggest upsets in swimming history.
Ethiopia vs Kenya (2013 World Championships)
In the 2013 World Championships, Kenya was expected to dominate the distance running events, but Ethiopia had other plans. In the men’s 10,000m, Ethiopia’s Ibrahim Jeilan upset the favorite, Kenya’s Mo Farah, by just 0.23 seconds to win the gold medal. The odds of Jeilan winning the race were as high as 20/1, making it one of the biggest upsets in athletics history.
Read: How to Manage Your Betting Bankroll for Long-Term Success
