Zimbabwe matched their second biggest winning margin in an Africa Cup

of Nations qualifier as they surged to the top of Group L by trouncing

Swaziland 4-0 Monday.

After an even first half in the matchday 4 top-of-the-table clash at

the National Sports Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe took control as

Swaziland tired three days after drawing at home to the same opposition.

Knowledge Musona calmly converted a 53rd-minute penalty and Costa

Nhamoinesu from Czech Republic club Sparta Prague nodded the second just

before the hour.

Goals from a couple of South Africa-based attackers who came off the

bench, Evans Rusike and Khama Billiat, completed an unexpectedly easy

triumph.

Victory for Zimbabwe followed five consecutive draws in a mini-league

completed by Malawi and top seeds Guinea, who will both be desperate

for three points when they meet in Blantyre Tuesday.

Zimbabwe have eight points, Swaziland five and Malawi and Guinea two

each with only the group winners guaranteed a place at the 2017 Cup of

Nations in Gabon.

The Warriors’ biggest Cup of Nations qualifying victory was 5-0

against Seychelles and they beat Swaziland before, Eritrea and Malawi by

four goals.

Swaziland, one of 16 countries never to feature at the biennial

African tournament, suffered their third heaviest loss after 6-0 to Togo

and 5-0 to Zambia

“What a wonderful day for the nation,” Belgium-based striker Musona

told reporters. “We won convincingly and are top of the table.

“Our objective now must be to secure maximum points when Malawi come

to Harare during June. I believe our chances of reaching Gabon are

good.” 

Zimbabwe qualified for the African football showpiece in 2004 and

2006, winning once and losing twice in each tournament to make

first-round exits.

Central African Republic, another of the 16 non-qualifiers, went top

of Group B by coming from behind to edge Madagascar 2-1 in Bangui. 

Malagasy Faneva Ima Randriatsima, who plays in the French second

division, scored the only goal of the first half at Stade Barthelemy

Boganda

Salif Keita levelled eight minutes after half-time and

Kazakhstan-based Moussa Limane got the winner midway through the second

half.

Central African Republic have seven points, 2015 Cup of Nations

bronze medalists the Democratic Republic of Congo six, Angola four and

Madagascar two.

Mali replaced Benin as Group C leaders after a late Mustapha Yatabare

goal delivered a second 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in four days,

this time away at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo.

While Mali (10 points) and Benin (eight) are set to fight for first

place, the Equatoguineans have just one point and cannot reach the

finals after finishing fourth last year as hosts.

A Mohamed Zubya hat-trick helped Libya trounce Sao Tome e Principe

4-0 in a Group F match moved to Cairo because of post Moamer Kadhafi era

lawlessness in the North African country.

Herve Renard-coached Morocco top the standings with nine points,

top-ranked African team Cape Verde have six and Libya and Sao Tome three

each.