Destiny Etiko Says She Lost ₦5 Million on First-Ever World Cup Bet
Nollywood actress Destiny Etiko has revealed that she lost ₦5 million after placing what she described as her first-ever football bet during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
The actress shared the experience in a post on Instagram shortly after Saturday’s final, expressing regret over the outcome and describing the experience as emotionally exhausting.
Etiko said the pressure of having such a large amount of money riding on the match made it difficult for her to enjoy the game.
She added that the loss had convinced her to stay away from sports betting in the future and joked that she no longer wanted to watch football.
“First time betting and I lost. Will never try it again. My ₦5 million is gone. In fact, I’m done watching football. Anxiety almost killed me,” she wrote, accompanied by crying and heartbreak emojis.
Her post generated widespread reactions from fans and followers, many of whom sympathised with her loss, while others poked fun at her unsuccessful prediction.
Some advised the actress to avoid gambling altogether, while others celebrated Spain’s victory over Argentina in the World Cup final.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final attracted global attention and saw significant betting activity among football fans, including first-time participants such as Etiko.
