Match ends, Mali 4, Mauritania 1.
Mali produced a dominant display to beat tournament debutants Mauritania at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Abdoulay Diaby drilled a powerful effort into the top corner from 25 yards to give the Eagles the lead.
A Moussa Marega penalty and a strike from Monaco's Adama Traore increased Mali's advantage, before Moctar Sidi El Hacen pulled a goal back from the spot.
Metz's Adama Traore, on for his namesake, completed the scoring, curling in from the edge of the box.
Mauritania, taking part in the tournament for the first time in their history, started brightly in Suez but the result was rarely in doubt after Diaby's sublime opener.
The minnows take on Angola in their next Group E game on Saturday (15:30 BST kick-off), while Mali face Tunisia on Friday (15:30 BST).
Analysis
BBC Arabic's Mohamed Qoutb
Mauritania fans experienced a historic moment as they heard the national anthem of their country played for the first time in Africa Cup of Nations history, but what happened on the pitch was not quite so enjoyable for them.
Mali's performance showed they are set to pose a threat to Tunisia's supposed dominance in this group, while Mauritania definitely need to loosen up and play with less pressure in the next match against Angola if they want to retain hope of an unlikely place in the knockout stages.
Line-ups
Mali
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16Diarra
- 2Traoré
- 13Wagué
- 15FofanaBooked at 71mins
- 3Kone
- 8Samassekou
- 11Coulibaly
- 23DiabySubstituted forHaidaraat 87'minutes
- 21TraoréSubstituted forTraoréat 61'minutes
- 19DjenepoBooked at 31minsSubstituted forDoumbiaat 61'minutes
- 9Marega
Substitutes
- 1Mounkoro
- 4Haidara
- 5Kouyate
- 6Haidara
- 7Doumbia
- 10Coulibaly
- 12Koita
- 14Traoré
- 17Sacko
- 18Doucoure
- 20Niane
- 22Keita
Mauritania
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1SouleymaneBooked at 79mins
- 4Abou DembaSubstituted forDiawat 53'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 15N´DiayeBooked at 19mins
- 5Ba
- 3Abeid
- 14Yali
- 19CoulibalySubstituted forMoulaye Ahmedat 45'minutes
- 6CamaraSubstituted forGayeat 82'minutes
- 18El Hacen
- 10Ba
- 7Diakite
Substitutes
- 2Diaw
- 8Guidileye
- 9Tanjy
- 11Moulaye Ahmed
- 12Diop
- 13Sarr
- 16Diaw
- 17Anne
- 20Thiam
- 21Diadié
- 22Diop
- 23Gaye
- Referee:
- Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo
- Attendance:
- 6,202
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Mali 4, Mauritania 1.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Hamari Traoré (Mali) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Moussa Doumbia.
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Corner, Mauritania. Conceded by Mamadou Fofana.
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Attempt blocked. Ismael Diakite (Mauritania) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Mauritania. Conceded by Molla Wagué.
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Corner, Mauritania. Conceded by Diadie Samassekou.
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Corner, Mauritania. Conceded by Mamadou Fofana.
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Attempt blocked. Abdoulaye Gaye (Mauritania) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Hamari Traoré (Mali).
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Bessam (Mauritania) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. Mohamed Dellahi Yali (Mauritania) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Bessam.
Substitution
Substitution, Mali. Amadou Haidara replaces Abdoulaye Diaby.
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Moussa Doumbia (Mali) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Bakary N´Diaye (Mauritania).
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Foul by Abdoulaye Diaby (Mali).
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Bakary N´Diaye (Mauritania) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Moustapha Diaw (Mauritania) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Moussa Doumbia (Mali) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Moustapha Diaw (Mauritania).