Nigeria vs. Bosnia: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and 2014 World Cup Preview

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nigeria face off in their second match of Group F after each suffered winless starts to their World Cup campaigns.

Bosnia were beaten 2-1 by Argentina and Lionel Messi in their first outing at a World Cup finals, with Nigeria sharing the spoils of a goalless draw against Iran.

A win for either side will put them firmly in control of their destiny and propel them toward the knockout stage of the competition.

Here is how you can watch this important Group F game:

When: Saturday, June 21, at 11 p.m. BST (6 p.m. ET)

Where: Cuiaba, Brazil

TV: BBC1 & HD (UK only); ESPN (US only)

Live Stream: BBC iPlayer (UK only); ESPN Player (US only)

Edin Dzeko the Key for Bosnia

Bosnia have brought a balanced and talented team to the World Cup in Brazil, but they have one shining light who can fire them to the knockout rounds.

Manchester City's Edin Dzeko holds the key to his country's hopes. The double Premier League winner is Bosnia's weapon of choice, and if he is firing on Saturday, Nigeria will find it hard to stop him and his team.

The striker was once again a vital cog in City's run to the Premier League title and featured heavily in Sergio Aguero's absence.

Dzeko hit a credible 18 goals in 39 matches in the Premier League and Europe, per WhoScored.com, with 11 of those appearances coming from the substitutes' bench. 

The player revealed his excitement at representing his homeland at their first World Cup finals just before the start of the tournament, as reported by Stuart Mathieson of Manchester Evening News, the striker saying:

It’s big for everyone in Bosnia. We have waited for this for the last 20 years for the national team to go to a big competition. You can see it in people’s eyes how happy they were when we achieved it.

They forgot about all the problems, everything else. It was just about Bosnia playing their first World Cup. Personally, I can’t wait for it to start and I think for all the fans it’s just the same.

The Nigeria game gives Dzeko and Bosnia the perfect opportunity to hit their stride at a major competition finals. His powerful frame, allied to clever movement, should provide a nightmare 90 minutes for opposing defenders.

The Nigerian defence is poor compared to those faced by Dzeko on a weekly basis, and he will know the time has come to make his mark after a frustrating opening night against Argentina.

If he can find his scoring touch, Bosnia should march forward and hope to join Argentina in the next round.

Premier League Veterans not Good Enough for Nigeria?

Nigeria will be looking to rely on two Premier League veterans to carry the flag against a very good Bosnian team.

Shola Ameobi and Peter Odemwingie are likely to start as Nigeria look to add some firepower to their starting XI after failing to score against Iran.

Their selection will not be a surprise, but it highlights how a once strong nation has fallen in recent years.

Ameobi only made his debut for Nigeria in 2012 and was recently released by his club Newcastle after 14 years of service, per BBC Sport.

Never a prolific goalscorer, Ameobi gets one last chance of glory in attending a World Cup finals, but he is nowhere near good enough for this level.

Odemwingie has also seen better days as his career winds down to the end.

But there is little doubt that Nigeria need players in their side who could potentially find the back of the net, as highlighted by legend Jay-Jay Okocha, who took to his Twitter account to express his desire to see attacking football:

If Nigeria can outscore the Bosnia team, it will be a minor miracle, but the World Cup has been packed with entertainment so far and a shock is not unthinkable.

But the smart money will be on Dzeko and his team-mates blasting through a suspect and ageing Nigeria side and creating mass celebration back home.

However, the stories of Ameobi and Odemwingie threaten one more chapter if either player can score and capture a win for Super Eagles.