Since France 1998, when Nigeria were a power to be reckoned with after beating Spain and Bulgaria to top their group, the Super Eagles have struggled to get off the ground in the tournament proper.
This time, however, they have every chance of making a flying start.
Monday's is a match both sides will see as a must-win if they are to have any chance of progressing from a group that includes Messi's heavily-fancied Argentina and exciting debutants Bosnia.
Coach Stephen 'Big Boss' Keshi, who captained the 1994 Nigerian side that reached the second round as winners of a group that also included former champions Argentina, is hoping to rekindle some of that magic.
Then, as now, Nigeria arrive as the African champions and even if their current squad is unpredictable and lacking the charisma and firepower of old, they will still start as favourites.
"The 1994 squad was a beautiful squad. It is my dream to have that spirit in this present squad. To have the unity, the oneness, the commitment, the togetherness, that would be great," Keshi told africanfootball.com earlier this month.
Nigeria's finals record since that last victory in France stands at two draws and six defeats, even if they won the African Nations Cup in 2013.
They also failed to win any of their three pre-Cup friendlies on the way to Brazil and were outclassed in last year's Confederations' Cup
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