Goals from Modibo Maiga and Salif Coulibaly secured a 2-0 win for Mali over South Sudan at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako on Saturday evening.

Despite missing the likes of Molla Wagué, Sigamary Diarra, Fousseyni Diawara and Mustapha Yatabaré among others through injury, the visitors were still overwhelming favourites heading into the encounter against the continental minnows.

The hosts wasted no time in stamping their authority on the game, scoring twice before the half-hour mark.

Metz striker Maiga opened the scoring with 17 minutes on the clock before Coulibaly hit the back of the net 12 minutes later.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Eagles who failed to add to their tally in the second half as the visitors plotted what would’ve been a surprise comeback.

It was not to be though as the ‘Bright Star’ saw out the game with 10 men following a sending off two minutes from time.

The defeat leaves South Sudan still without a taste of victory since their first official outing in July 2012.

For Mali the win moves them top of Group C which also includes Equatorial Guinea and Benin