Sports betting is a worldwide sensation, taking over a good chunk of the entertainment sector. In Tanzania, sports betting has become a common phenomenon, especially when the Tanzanian Premier League is on and Simba S.C. is playing. But, given that wagering is not all about guessing what happens, football fans need to have specific items that they are looking for before they can place any wager.
Football is the most popular sport in Tanzania with approximately 25% of the total population being considered fans. With a population of over 65 million, you can be sure that that’s quite a huge number. In major local matches when Simba S.C. is playing, for example, the clash between Simba S.C. and Yanga, the number of spectators in the stadium is almost 60,000.
According to the Tanzania iGaming Market Research Report 2025, the majority of the market is covered by sports bettors, 63% of them being football bettors. Now, whenever Simba S.C. is playing, the market is always buzzing with activity. Winning a whopping 22 championship titles, a few less than their arch rivals, Yanga makes them a worthwhile team to follow and bet on. But before placing any bet using a particular sportsbook, punters (especially the pros) usually do some research and find out what they can do to maximize their bets.
Watch out for the team form and recent performances
When analyzing betting odds, it is quite important that a bettor first evaluate a team’s current form and their recent performance.
To start with, you need to look at the recent performances of both teams. If a team has been on a winning streak, there is a huge chance that they might be psyched up for the game, giving them an advantage over the other team. This becomes even more pronounced if the rival team has been on a losing streak. In the 2024/25 season, out of 30 games that Simba S.C. played, 24 were wins, 2 were losses and 4 were draws. Looking at this, you can be sure that Simba S.C. will be very psyched up when they start off the games in the 2025/26 season.
Also, you can check the lineups and find out whether key players are available for the game. A team might have performed exceptionally well historically, but suspensions and injuries of key players might affect it significantly.
For example, looking at the EPL (Tanzania’s favorite football league outside the country), Nottingham Forest’s defence, led by Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo, has proven to be a force to reckon with. The goalkeeper, Matz Sels, also won the Golden Glove for having the most clean sheets in the entire 24/25 season, alongside David Raya of Arsenal. When you look at the forwards, Erling Haaland of Man City has stood out as an unstoppable finisher. Without such players on the team, the team’s winning odds might be lower.
Consider the historical matchups and head-to-head performances
The clash between two teams often reveals patterns that could perhaps help bettors predict the outcome of the game. For example, since the league started in 1965, Simba S.C. and Yanga have met 112 times. In these games, Yanga won 40 times, Simba won 32 times, and there were 40 draws. For these teams, it becomes quite hectic to bet on an outright winner since the teams are almost tied in strength (despite Yange having more wins).
Also, in the H2H performances, you can check out their previous performances during home and away games. For example, in the EPL, Chelsea has gone winless against Manchester United since 2013, whenever they are playing at the Old Trafford. This pattern gave the Red Devils confidence during their last matchup, despite Manchester United having a terrible 2024/25 season, and a not so good 25/26 beginning.
Additionally, you can consider the playing styles of different teams. You see, different managers enforce their own playing styles, which could be deadly against the playing style of another club or very weak. Like Simba S.C. is known for its fast-paced style of play with well coordinated one touch plays. This becomes a dangerous strategy for teams that sit back with a rigid low block but lack compactness. The likes of Mtibwa Sugar, Geita Gold and Coastal Union.
Looking at such statistics, bettors are able to make some well informed decisions before they think of placing any bet.
Shop around for odds
As a bettor, you want to get the highest value. The more you interact with different sportsbooks, the more you realize that not all of them offer the same odds for the same match. Before you can settle for a bookmaker, ensure that you have gone over a number of odds to see which gives you the highest potential. You see, even a slight difference in odds could lead to a significant impact on your potential winnings.
The other thing you should always be keen on is value bets. Doing proper research on your game might help you exploit the loopholes within a bookmaker. For example, if your research and gut feeling make you believe that a certain underdog has high chances of winning or making a draw, you can choose to exploit the high odds offered by the oddsmaker. This represents value.
Before you can make a bet, it is important that you have your research intact. As professionals normally say, betting is not only about luck. Performing your due diligence will separate a real bettor from jokers. Get to know how the upcoming game’s lineups look, confirm their playing styles, be sure of their H2H records, confirm their recent form and performance and see whether there is something that the bookies are missing. Do not be afraid to use the bookies against their own odds if you are sure that you have a value bet.
