Africa enters the battle front today as the Brazil 2014 World Cup enters day two. The four-year wait had ended last night at the 65,000-capacity Arena de Sao Paulo, where a full house was treated to the opening ceremony of the World Cup, followed by the opening game between host Brazil and Croatia (at 9pm Nigeria time.)

The championship took off on a bright note for the host nation last night as Brazil came back from an early own goal by Marcelo to beat Croatia 3-1, thanks to two goals by wonder boy Neymar and a third by Oscar.

Cameroon will become the first African nation to taste action at the championship when it takes on Mexico at Arena das Dunas, Natal.

Thirty-two countries, including Nigeria, will be competing in the month-long tournament that will be broadcast live on television. The final match comes up in Rio on July 13.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will kick off their World Cup campaign in group F on Monday (June 16) against Iran at 9pm.

The Super Eagles will also play against Bosnia and Argentina in their other group matches.

News Express will cover Nigeria’s matches with live updates online on www.newsexpressngr.com.

ALL THE GROUPS

GROUP A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, CAMEROON

Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

GROUP C: Colombia, Greece, IVORY COAST, Japan

Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

GROUP F: Argentina, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Iran, NIGERIA

GROUP G: Germany, Portugal, GHANA, United States

GROUP H: Belgium, ALGERIA, Russia, South Korea

FIXTURES INVOLVING AFRICAN TEAMS

GROUP A

June 13: Mexico v CAMEROON, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 17:00

June 18: CAMEROON v Croatia, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 23:00

June 23: CAMEROON v Brazil, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 21:00

GROUP C

June 15: IVORY COAST v Japan, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 02:00

June 19: Colombia v IVORY COAST, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00

June 24: Greece v IVORY COAST, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 21:00

GROUP F

June 16: Iran v NIGERIA, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 20:00

June 21: NIGERIA v Bosnia-Hercegovina, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 23:00

June 25: NIGERIA v Argentina, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 17:00

GROUP G

June 16: GHANA v United States, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 23:00

June 21: Germany v GHANA, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 20:00

June 26: Portugal v GHANA, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 17:00

GROUP H

June 17: Belgium v ALGERIA, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, 17:00

June 22: South Korea v ALGERIA, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, 20:00 (Moved from original 17:00 kick-off)

June 26: ALGERIA v Russia, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 21:00

•Photo shows veteran Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o, who is expected to lead the Indomitable Lions out against Mexico in today’s cracker.

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