Nigeria made a losing World Cup start against Croatia, but there are stats that shows why the Super Eagles failed to pick a point in the Group D match in Kaliningrad.
No shots on target for 59 minutes – the key stats
- Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo had the first shot on target in this match in the 59th minute – the longest wait for a first attempt on target in a World Cup match so far this tournament.
- Croatia’s opening goals at Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 have been own goals – Brazil’s Marcelo four years ago and Oghenekaro Etebo this time.
- Nigeria became the first team in World Cup history to concede two consecutive own goals in the competition, with their last goal shipped in 2014, against France in the last 16, also coming in this manner.
- Croatia have won their opening game of a World Cup for the first time since their debut in the competition in 1998 (3-1 against Jamaica).
- Nigeria have lost each of their past seven World Cup games when conceding the first goal.
- Croatia have scored in each of their past five World Cup games, their longest scoring streak in the competition.
- Nigeria have lost their past three World Cup games, their longest run since a run of four between 1998 and 2002.
What’s next?
Croatia face Argentina in Nizhny Novgorod in their second Group D game on Thursday (19:00 BST), while Nigeria go to Volgograd to play Iceland.
