Two late goals proved to be the difference as France ran out 2 - 0 winners over Nigeria to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Paul Pogba headed in on 79 minutes following a Vincent Enyeama error at a corner to give France the lead, before Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo deflected a cross into his own net in injury time.

In a scrappy game, both teams have had chances to break the deadlock, prior to Pogba's opener.

Nigeria thought they had scored an early opener through Emmanuel Emenike but it was ruled out for off-side.

France also came close to breaking the deadlock when midfielder Pogba's close-range shot was brilliantly saved by the Nigerian goalkeeper while Karim Benzema, whose move to the centre following Olivier Giroud's substitution, also had a shot cleared off the goal-line.

The winners of today's clash will then have to face the team that emerges from tonight's second-round clash in Porto Alegre at 9pm when Germany will take on Algeria.