Russia 2018: Croatia 🇭🇷 vs Nigeria 🇳🇬 - Preview

Having seen Argentina and Iceland play out a one-all draw, both Croatia and Nigeria will come into tonight's game with the hope of grabbing three points and going top of the group.

The first game of the Group saw a tensed end-to-end game end in a draw with Lionel Messi missing a penalty kick, missing the opportunity to hand Argentina three points.

This is the first meeting between the two nations and promises to be another interesting match giving the parade of players by both teams.

Croatia boasts of the likes of Real Madrid's Luka Modric, Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic, Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic, and Roma's Mario Mandzukic.

Nigeria have stars like Arsenal's Alex Iwobi, Leicester City duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Winfred Ndidi, Chelsea's Victor Moses, CSKA Moscow's Ahmed Musa and the duo of Chinese League players in Odion Ighalo and Skipper Mikel Obi.

Although Nigeria were the first team to qualify for the World Cup on the African Continent, they have been less than impressive in their four warm-up games, losing to England, Czech Republic and Poland with a draw against DR Congo. They would however pick a little positive having defeated Argentina earlier in a friendly game.

Croatia on their part needed a playoff victory against Greece to qualify for the tournament.

Nigeria, the lowest ranked team in the group boasts of the youngest team in the tournament with an average age of 25 years 366 days as at the opening day of the tournament.

This is Croatia's fifth World Cup appearance and they have lost their last three opening games at the World Cup with the previous two coming against Brazil in 2006 and 2014.

Nigeria appearing at their sixth World Cup have not fared better either, winning just one of their last 12 world cup games which was the 1-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014. They have lost 8 and drawn 3. They have also failed to win in their last three opening games with 1 draw and 2 losses while failing to score on all occasions.

No much injury worries for both teams after Moses Simon couldn't make the Nigeria team due to injury.

MY PREDICTION

Both teams seem to be at par as regards their past records and being fully aware of their opportunity to top the group with three points, following the draw between Argentina and Iceland, it makes for an interesting game.

My bias stays with Nigeria to pull off a surprise win even though it might not come easy.