Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko scored within six second-half minutes to give Mali a 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group E victory on Tuesday over South Africa, who missed a penalty.
Percy Tau fired a spot-kick wide in the opening half in Korhogo and it proved a costly miss as the clinical Eagles were never in danger after netting twice.
Victory took Mali to the top of the group on goal difference from Namibia, who shocked Tunisia 1-0 in the first match of a double-header.
Mali are a bogey team for South Africa, having twice eliminated them in the quarter-finals in previous Cup of Nations meetings.
Squandered chance
South Africa squandered a chance to take the lead on 19 minutes when Tau, who plays for Egyptian and African giants Al Ahly, blazed a penalty over the crossbar to his huge embarrassment.
It was awarded after the referee went to the VAR touchline monitor and saw Sikou Niakate elbow Evidence Makgopa after Aubrey Modiba crossed into the area.
South Africa were almost made to pay for the missed spot-kick in first-half added time when Sinayoko was foiled by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
A couple of Bafana Bafana defenders failed to clear the ball, allowing Sinayoko to break clear but Williams dashed off his line to divert the ball away from danger.
Take lead
Mali should have gone in front soon after half-time but Amadou Haidara fired wildly off target from close range with only the goalkeeper to beat.
However, the Eagles did take the lead on 60 minutes thanks to the alertness of captain Traore after a free-kick.
The Sekou Koita set-piece beat Williams only to rebound of f the underside of the crossbar and Traore reacted quickest to push the ball into the net.
Just six minutes later and Mali were two goals ahead as Sinayoko demonstrated his physical strength by brushing aside Siyanda Xulu and slotting the ball into the net from close range.
In the second round of Group E matches, Mali face Tunisia on Saturday and Namibia meet South Africa on Sunday with both matches in Korhogo.
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