Jonah Fisher BBC Sport in Asmara

Eritrea 0-2 Mali

Thiam got Mali's first with a header

Two headed goals from corners gave Mali a second win and kept their bid to qualify for the African Nations Cup on track.

Ibrahim Thiam and Dramane Coulibaly got the goals that condemned Eritrea to their third defeat in group six.

The defeat all but ended any faint hopes the home side had of making it to next year's finals in Tunisia.

All eleven of Mali�s starting line-up play in Europe but their greater professionalism and experience was not immediately apparent, as Eritrea, whose players are all locally-based, held their own in the first half.

Physical difference

And with more composure in front of goal, the home side could even have taken an unlikely lead with Mahmoud Suleman opting to pass the ball when just five yards out.

Nowhere was the physical difference between the sides more marked than in the contest between the huge Malian centre backs Boubacar Diarra and Sekon Berthe, and the small Eritrean forward line of Suleman and Fasil Abraha.

It was perhaps inevitable given the contrast between the two sides that Mali�s most serious threat would come from corners and free kicks.

Mali's first goal came nine minutes into the second half when right back Ibrahim Thiam rose to head home a corner kick.