- The result came courtesy of an Oghenekaro Etebo own goal and a second-half penalty by captain Luka Modric
- Mario Manduzkic was involved in both goals as he headed the ball home via Etebo and then won the penalty
In a stadium built on a swamp, Croatia finally laid down foundations for a half decent World Cup campaign.
It is far too early to say their golden generation will deliver anything worthwhile in what might be their last hurrah, but crucially they have kicked their nation's bad habit of opening with a whimper.
In each of their past three trips to the World Cup – in 2002, 2006 and 2014 – they were beaten in their first match and in each of those competitions they failed to get out of the group.
MATCH FACTS
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Subasic 6; Vrsaljko 5, Lovren 7, Vida 6, Strinic 6; Modric 7.5, Rakitić 7; Rebic 7 (Kovacic 79), Kramaric 6.5 (Brozovic 61, 6), Perisic 7; Mandzukic 6.5 (Pjaca 85)
Subs: Livakovic, Corluka, L Kalinic, Jedvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, N Kalinic, Badelj, Pivaric
Booked: Rakitic, Brozovic
Nigeria (4-2-3-1): Uzoho 6; Shehu 5, Ekong 3.5, Balogun 5, Idowu 5.5; Ndidi 6, Etebo 5; Moses 5.5, Mikel 6, Iwobi 5.5 (Musa 62, 6); Ighalo 5 (Iheanacho 73, 5.5)
Subs: Ezenwa, Echiejile, Nwankwo, Obi, Akpeyi, Onazi, Ogu, Awaziem, Ebuehi, Omeruo
Booked: Ekong
Referee: Sandro Ricci (Brazil) 7
MOM: Luka Modric
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Subasic 6; Vrsaljko 5, Lovren 7, Vida 6, Strinic 6; Modric 7.5, Rakitić 7; Rebic 7 (Kovacic 79), Kramaric 6.5 (Brozovic 61, 6), Perisic 7; Mandzukic 6.5 (Pjaca 85)
Subs: Livakovic, Corluka, L Kalinic, Jedvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, N Kalinic, Badelj, Pivaric
Booked: Rakitic, Brozovic
Nigeria (4-2-3-1): Uzoho 6; Shehu 5, Ekong 3.5, Balogun 5, Idowu 5.5; Ndidi 6, Etebo 5; Moses 5.5, Mikel 6, Iwobi 5.5 (Musa 62, 6); Ighalo 5 (Iheanacho 73, 5.5)
Subs: Ezenwa, Echiejile, Nwankwo, Obi, Akpeyi, Onazi, Ogu, Awaziem, Ebuehi, Omeruo
Booked: Ekong
Referee: Sandro Ricci (Brazil) 7
MOM: Luka Modric