Betting sites relying on major boost from start of AFCON

The Africa Cup of Nations has finally kicked off ahead of a highly anticipated and delayed start to the tournament.

Local planning and infrastructure delays, the ongoing international pandemic, and the threat of insurrection and civil war have all blighted Cameroon's hosting of the tournament. 

Despite senior officials and managers across the top leagues in Europe condemning the tournament in recent weeks, the entire continent waited with bated breath before the first ball was kicked on Sunday 8 January in the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé. 

In fact AFCON's product is stronger than ever with a number of top players taking leave to participate in the tournament. Recent debates in the Premier League about the efficacy of AFCON being played in the middle of the European club season have further publicised the tournament worldwide.

Betting sites in Kenya and across East Africa are relying on the tournament being a success after the post-Christmas slump that often occurs in the European footballing calendar. 

Originally intended to take place during the torrential rains of the Cameroonian wet season the tournament was moved to January 2021 before being postponed a full year.

The month-long tournament will provide the bulwark and much needed boost the betting industry is looking for before the major pan-European Champions League returns in February continuing into the spring.

A report into the gambling industry back in 2018 stated that total revenue in the betting industry in sub saharan Africa would be expected to reach $635 million in 2022, a figure equivalent to over $70 billion Kenyan shillings. 

Online betting in Kenya has taken off in recent years with the propulsion of the medium through the proliferation of smartphones and wider access to the internet. Betting in Kenya is currently rated as the third biggest market on the continent after Nigeria and South Africa. 

AFCON in particular has been the focus of many betting companies' campaigns already. A number of betting operators in Kenya are pushing odds and services for the tournament despite the Kenyan national team failing to qualify for the tournament. 

Another major boost to many football-related industries will be the strength of this highly anticipated competition. It is being argued in many quarters that this could be the strongest and most competitive AFCON ever.

A number of star players who compete for clubs at the highest level swell the ranks of a number of national sides including Algeria, Senegal the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and more. 

Favourites to be crowned African champions are current trophy holders Algeria closely followed by the likes of Senegal and Egypt who all boast big star talent. Holders Cameroon as well as Morocco and Ivory Coast who have exciting and highly anticipated emerging talent.