Guinea thump 10-man Botswana side

Jan 28, 2012, 18:27 GMT

Libreville, Gabon - Guinea played themselves back into contention at the Africa Cup of Nations Saturday as they thumped a 10-man Botswana side 6-1.

Sadio Diallo scored a brace for his side, while Abdoul Camara, Ibrahima Traore, Mamadou Bah and Naby Soumah scored the others for the Syli Nationale, who should have won by an even higher score in front of another disappointingly small crowd in Franceville.

Botswana top scorer Dipsey Selowane got the first-ever goal for the team from southern Africa, who had substitute Patrick Motsepe sent off late in the first half.

The victory takes Guinea to the top of group D on goal difference ahead of Saturday's later match between Ghana and Mali. All three teams have three points, while Botswana is without a point.

Diallo opened the scoring in the 15th minute, but Selowane equalized eight minutes later with a penalty. Goalkeeper Naby Yattara saved the initial spot-kick but the referee ruled that it should be re-taken and Selowane chose the opposite corner, giving Yattara no chance.

Diallo put his side back in front in the 28th minute and Camara gave them a comfortable lead four minutes from the break.

Motsepe then received his marching orders for a dangerous over-the-top challenge on Pascal Feindouno and from the resultant free-kick Traore scored his side's fourth just before the break.

Guinea nearly grabbed another midway through the second half when television replays showed that Feindouno's long-range effort should have counted, but the referee waved play on, having ruled that the ball had not crossed the line.

There was, however, time for two more goals for Guinea as Bah scored with a thunderous strike from well outside the area with six minutes to go and two minutes later substitute Soumah scored his side's sixth after breaking into the area and beating goalkeeper Modiri Marumo.

Earlier in the week the two co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, as well as Tunisia and Ivory Coast qualified for the quarter-finals at the January 21 - February 12 event.