The first goal came when Walid Elkhatroushi headed in a cross that the goalkeeper failed to hold in the 20th minute.

Libyan substitute Ahmed Wafa made it 2-0 after receiving the ball from an attempted clearance and shooting between the ‘keeper and a defender in the 70th minute.

Jamal Abdu Alla Mohamed scored 10 minutes later. A pass put him clear through the center of the pitch, allowing Mohamed to dribble toward goal and find the net.

“We dedicate this victory to the Libyan people who are suffering,” Libya captain Tariq Ibrahim al Tayib said. “We hope that we’ve managed to bring a little smile to their faces, a little joy.”

Libya tops Group C with seven points, one more than Zambia and three in front of Mozambique. Comoros has zero points.

About 20,000 Malians turned up to watch the game. Almost all were supporting Libya, with many carrying posters protesting against the Western-led military intervention in the country.

Libya has good relations with the Malian government and Moammar Gadhafi enjoys a lot of support among the local population.

Tayib said before the match that several players couldn’t play before they are based in Benghazi, a Libyan town currently held by forces opposed to Gadhafi, and were unable to travel to the capital of Tripoli.

“It was very hard to get the team together and the coach did not train with us in Tripoli, but just met us here on Friday,” Tayib said.