Two very painfully cheap goals – one own goal by Etebo who deflected a flying header from Mandzukic; and a wrestling hold on Mandzukic by Ekong gave the Croatians a penalty that was neatly tucked in by Modric.
Now Croatia top Group D table with three points followed by Iceland and Argentina with a point each, and Nigeria trailing the pack with zero and two goals deficit.
So far, the three African countries that have featured have lost their matches.