How I Made My First $100 in a Day: The Power of One Pair
- FT9ja Team
- Jul 31
- 8 min read
A Personal Journey from Overcomplicating Trading to Mastering EUR/USD - A Nigerian Trader's Story
Six months ago, I was the typical Nigerian trader you'd find in any WhatsApp trading group – convinced that more indicators meant more profit, jumping from USD/JPY to GBP/USD to AUD/CAD, and losing my hard-earned naira faster than I could make it.
My MT5 platform looked like a Lagos traffic jam – overcrowded, confusing, and going nowhere fast. I was following signals from Telegram channels, watching YouTube tutorials at 2 AM, and somehow still bleeding money despite "knowing" everything about trading.
Then came March 15th, 2024 – the day that changed my entire perspective. The day I made my first $100 (₦150,000) in a single trading session by focusing on just one currency pair: EUR/USD.
The Typical Nigerian Trader's Struggle
Let me paint you a picture of my trading setup before that breakthrough day. Like most of us starting out, I thought being a successful trader meant:
Having at least 15 different indicators on my chart
Joining 20+ trading signal groups on WhatsApp and Telegram
Watching every "Nigerian millionaire trader" on YouTube
Trading every major news release from BOE to RBA
Having alerts for 25+ currency pairs
My typical morning routine involved checking:
USD/JPY for any Bank of Japan intervention
EUR/GBP for Brexit drama
AUD/USD for commodity news
GBP/USD for BOE statements
Plus about 15 other pairs
I felt like a professional trader – busy, informed, and completely overwhelmed. Sound familiar, my Nigerian brothers and sisters?
The reality? I was making ₦10,000 on one pair while losing ₦15,000 on another. My account balance was doing more ups and downs than NEPA light. After three months, I had turned my ₦500,000 starting capital into ₦280,000.
The Simplicity Awakening
Everything changed when I stumbled upon a prop trader's story online. This guy claimed he made consistent profits trading only EUR/USD. As a typical Nigerian, I was skeptical – "How can someone ignore all the opportunities in other pairs? Is this guy not leaving money on the table?"
But after another week of disappointing results (and my wife starting to ask serious questions about the missing money), I decided to try something different.
For exactly one week, I would:
Trade only EUR/USD
Use only price action and basic support/resistance
Trade during London session overlaps with New York (1 PM - 5 PM Lagos time)
Risk exactly 1% per trade
Maintain a 2:1 reward-to-risk ratio
The first three days were humbling. Without my usual indicators, I felt like I was trading blind. But something beautiful happened – I started seeing the market clearly for the first time.
The Breakthrough Day: March 15th
I'll never forget that Thursday. I woke up at 11:30 AM (Lagos time), had my morning tea, and opened MT5. Instead of my usual multi-screen setup that would make a NASA control room jealous, I had one clean EUR/USD 1-hour chart.
The previous day had closed at 1.0855, and I noticed something that would have been invisible in my indicator-cluttered past: a clear support level at 1.0830 that had been tested three times over the past week.
Trade 1: The False Breakout (12:45 PM Lagos Time)
At 12:45 PM, just before the London session heated up, EUR/USD dropped to 1.0825, breaking my identified support level. My old self would have immediately entered a short position, expecting further decline.
But I waited. This was my new rule – wait for confirmation.
Within 15 minutes, the pair bounced back above 1.0830. This wasn't a genuine break; it was a false breakout – what we call "market manipulation" in our trading groups. I entered a long position at 1.0835 with:
Stop loss: 1.0810 (25 pips)
Take profit: 1.0885 (50 pips)
Position size: 0.4 lots (risking 1% of my ₦1,500,000 account
Result: +₦30,000 in 90 minutes
The pair rallied steadily through the London session, hitting my take profit at 1.0885 by 2:15 PM.
I was up ₦30,000 for the day, but more importantly, I was starting to understand EUR/USD's behavior like I understood Lagos traffic patterns.
Trade 2: The Momentum Continuation (3:30 PM Lagos Time)
After the morning rally, EUR/USD consolidated between 1.0880 and 1.0890 for about an hour. I noticed that each time it touched 1.0890, it was met with selling pressure, but the selling was getting weaker – like a Lagos generator running out of fuel.
At 3:30 PM, EUR/USD broke above 1.0890 with a strong green candle. This time, I was ready. I entered long at 1.0892 with:
Stop loss: 1.0867 (25 pips)
Take profit: 1.0942 (50 pips)
Position size: 0.4 lots
Result: +₦30,000 in 75 minutes
The pair continued its upward momentum, reaching my take profit at 1.0942 by 4:45 PM.
Trade 3: The Rejection Setup (4:50 PM Lagos Time)
With two successful trades under my belt, I was feeling confident but not cocky (you know how market can humble you). EUR/USD had reached 1.0950 – a psychological resistance level. I watched as it struggled to break above this level, forming two consecutive rejection candles.
At 4:50 PM, I entered a short position at 1.0945 with:
Stop loss: 1.0970 (25 pips)
Take profit: 1.0895 (50 pips)
Position size: 0.4 lots
Result: +₦30,000 in 2 hours
The pair gradually declined through the afternoon, reaching my take profit at 1.0895 by 6:50 PM.
The Numbers That Changed My Life
Total trades: 3 Total profit: ₦90,000 ($60 at that time) Total time: 6 hours Win rate: 100% (though I knew this wouldn't always be the case) Risk per trade: 1% (₦15,000) Reward per trade: 2% (₦30,000)
But here's the real kicker – I felt more in control than I had in months of trading. No indicator confusion, no analysis paralysis, just pure price action and market understanding.
That ₦90,000 was more than my monthly salary at the time. I called my wife immediately – she thought I was joking until I showed her the MT5 statements.
Why EUR/USD Became My Breakthrough Pair
After that breakthrough day, I spent weeks analyzing why EUR/USD worked so well for me as a Nigerian trader:
1. Predictable Personality
EUR/USD has distinct characteristics:
Respects technical levels more consistently than volatile pairs
Moves in clear trends during London/New York overlap
Reacts predictably to major economic releases
Has sufficient volatility without being erratic like GBP/JPY
2. Optimal Trading Hours for Nigerians
The London/New York overlap (1 PM - 5 PM Lagos time) provides:
Perfect timing for those with 9-5 jobs
Highest liquidity for EUR/USD
Clearest directional moves
Most reliable technical setups
No need to wake up at 3 AM like forex night traders
3. Economic Calendar Clarity
Following just two economies (EU and US) versus eight or more:
Easier to track fundamental drivers
More predictable news impact
Less conflicting economic data
Simplified correlation analysis
No need to understand Australian mining data or Japanese manufacturing
4. Lower Spread Costs
EUR/USD typically has:
Tightest spreads (0.5-1 pip on most Nigerian brokers)
Better execution quality
Less slippage during news events
More cost-effective for smaller accounts
The Strategy That Delivered
Here's the exact approach that generated my first ₦90,000 day:
Market Preparation (12:00 PM Lagos Time)
Review previous day's high/low and closing level
Identify 3-5 key support/resistance levels from past week
Check economic calendar for major EU/US releases
Set up clean 1-hour chart with just support/resistance lines
Entry Criteria
For Long Positions:
False breakout below support with quick recovery
Breakout above resistance with strong momentum candle
Bounce from support with confirmation candle
For Short Positions:
False breakout above resistance with quick rejection
Breakdown below support with strong momentum candle
Rejection from resistance with confirmation candle
Risk Management (Nigerian Style)
Stop loss: 25-30 pips from entry
Take profit: 50-60 pips from entry (2:1 ratio)
Position size: 1% account risk per trade
Maximum 3 trades per session
Never risk money meant for rent or family upkeep
Exit Strategy
Take profit at predetermined level
Trail stop after 1:1 reward-to-risk achieved
Close 50% at first target, let remainder run
Exit all positions before major news releases
Close all trades before 6 PM Lagos time
The Psychology Shift
The most profound change wasn't in my strategy – it was in my mindset. Trading one pair forced me to:
Develop Patience: Instead of jumping between pairs like a Lagos danfo driver, I waited for quality EUR/USD opportunities.
Build Expertise: I became intimately familiar with EUR/USD's behavior patterns, typical daily ranges, and reaction to news.
Reduce Stress: No more scanning 20 pairs for opportunities. My focus was laser-sharp.
Improve Discipline: With fewer opportunities, each trade became more precious, improving my execution quality.
The Months That Followed
That first ₦90,000 day wasn't a fluke. By focusing exclusively on EUR/USD, I:
Achieved 23 profitable days out of 30 in April
Averaged ₦120,000 per day in May
Grew my account from ₦1,500,000 to ₦2,775,000 in six months
Developed unshakeable confidence in my approach
More importantly, I qualified for a $50,000 funded account with FT9ja, where this same EUR/USD strategy now generates ₦300,000-500,000 per day.
Common Nigerian Trader Mistakes I Avoided
1. Overtrading: Sticking to one pair eliminated the temptation to trade every moving market.
2. Signal Dependency: Simple price action removed the need for expensive signal services.
3. FOMO: Focusing on EUR/USD meant ignoring "opportunities" in other pairs that often turned into losses.
4. Inconsistent Risk: Trading one pair made position sizing calculations automatic and consistent.
5. Emotional Trading: Familiarity with EUR/USD's behavior reduced emotional decision-making.
Lessons for Nigerian Traders
Start Small, Think Big: My ₦90,000 day started with 1% risk per trade. Consistency matters more than home runs.
Less is More: Twenty indicators and fifteen pairs create noise. One pair and price action create clarity.
Specialize Before Diversifying: Master one instrument before attempting others. Become an expert, not a generalist.
Respect the Process: My breakthrough came from following rules, not from finding the perfect setup.
Document Everything: I tracked every trade, every emotion, every lesson learned.
The EUR/USD Advantage for Nigerian Traders
If you're struggling with consistency, consider specializing in EUR/USD:
Liquidity: Tightest spreads and best execution
Stability: Less prone to sudden spikes than exotic pairs
Information: Most analyzed pair with abundant educational resources
Correlation: Clear relationship with major economic indicators
Timing: Optimal trading hours align with Nigerian work schedules
Funding: Most prop firms focus on major pairs like EUR/USD
Your Path to the First ₦90,000 Day
Week 1-2: Study EUR/USD exclusively
Observe daily patterns during London/NY overlap (1-5 PM Lagos time)
Identify consistent support/resistance levels
Track reaction to major economic releases
Week 3-4: Paper trade your strategy
Practice entry/exit criteria
Develop position sizing discipline
Build confidence in your approach
Week 5-6: Start live trading with minimum position sizes
Risk 0.5% per trade initially
Focus on execution over profit
Document every trade and lesson learned
Week 7+: Scale up gradually
Increase position sizes only after consistent profits
Maintain strict risk management
Continue education and refinement
The Compound Effect
My first ₦90,000 day wasn't just about the money – it was about proving that simple, focused trading works. That confidence led to:
Consistent daily profits
Qualification for funded accounts
A sustainable trading career
Financial freedom I never thought possible as a Nigerian
From Salary to Trading Income
Before that breakthrough, I was earning ₦80,000 monthly at my corporate job. Now, I make that in 2-3 days of trading EUR/USD. The transformation didn't happen overnight, but it started with one decision: focus on one pair.
My story isn't unique – many Nigerian traders are discovering that specialization beats diversification. The key is patience, discipline, and the courage to simplify.
Ready to Find Your EUR/USD Edge?
The path from struggling trader to consistent profitability doesn't require complex strategies or expensive software. It requires focus, discipline, and the courage to simplify.
My ₦90,000 day started with one decision: trade only EUR/USD. Six months later, I'm generating more income than my previous corporate salary, all from understanding one currency pair better than most traders understand twenty. Your breakthrough is one pair away.
Take Action Today:
✅ Focus on EUR/USD exclusively for the next 30 days
✅ Apply for FT9ja funding to scale your EUR/USD profits
✅ Join our Nigerian trader community for support and guidance
✅ Document your journey – track every trade and lesson
Ready to transform your trading career? Your first ₦90,000 day starts with a single pair.
Success in trading requires dedication, proper risk management, and continuous learning. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always trade within your risk tolerance and never risk money meant for essential expenses.
Comments