Ibrahima Kone put in a man-of-the-match performance as he scored a first-half hattrick and laid one assist in Mali’s 5-0 demolition of Kenya in a World Cup qualifying match in Morocco on Thursday night.
Les Aigles’s win sees them soar to the top of their group on seven points and remain the only unbeaten side.
Kenya, in the meantime, dropped to third with two points and now must win the return tie in Nairobi to have any hopes of a chance in the next round.
In Lagos, hosts Nigeria suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Central Africa Republic to lose their 100% record.
Substitute Karl Namnganda scored the sensational 90th-minute goal to punish the wasteful Eagles, who boast of some top players plying their trade in Europe.
Despite the loss Nigeria remain top of their group with six points while CAR climb up to third with four points, same as second-placed Cape Verde who had earlier come from behind to beat Liberia 2-1.
In Kigali meanwhile, Uganda picked their first win in Group E after beating hosts Rwanda 1-0.
Meanwhile, in Rades, Tunisia put in a strong performance to easily dispatch Mauritania 3-0 and maintain their 100 percent record in Group B.
Ellyes Skhiri, Wahbi Khazri, and Seifeddine Jaziri were all on target for the Carthage Eagles as they kept their hunt for a place in Qatar 2022 alive.
Here are all the results from day two of Matchday 3;
