Nollywood actress Destiny Etiko has opened up about losing ₦5 million after placing what she described as her first football bet during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
The actress shared the disappointing experience on her Instagram page shortly after the highly anticipated final, revealing that the outcome left her both emotionally shaken and financially affected.
According to Etiko, the tension of following the match while such a huge amount of money was at stake made the experience extremely stressful. She admitted that the anxiety she felt throughout the game was overwhelming and not something she wishes to experience again.
Expressing her frustration with crying and heartbreak emojis, the actress said the loss has completely changed her view of sports betting. She insisted she would never place another football bet and jokingly declared that she was done watching the sport altogether.
“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.
Her post quickly generated widespread reactions from fans and followers across social media. While many sympathised with her and encouraged her to move on from the loss, others playfully teased her over the unsuccessful prediction. Some advised her to stay away from gambling entirely, while others celebrated Spain’s triumph in the World Cup final.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina captured global attention and inspired massive betting activity among football fans, with many first time bettors, including Etiko, trying their luck on one of the biggest matches in world football.
