Sierra Leone kept their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir, Morocco on Sunday evening.
John Keister's side got off to a flying start when Abubakarr Samura broke the deadlock after just seven minutes and Alhassan Koroma sealed their first victory in Group A on 28 minutes.
The Leone Stars closed within one point of Nigeria (6) in third place, with the Falcons and True Parrots propping up the rear on a single point to all but end their Afcon challenge.
Sao Tome and Principe struggled to retain possession in the opening stages as Sierra Leone closed them down at every opportunity and found plenty of joy down the left flank.
The opening goal came from that side on seven minutes when a deep free-kick was headed back across goal by Mustapha Bundu and Samura swept the ball home from eight yards out.
Bundu almost went from provider to goalscorer on the quarter-hour mark as he struck the outside of the near post from an acute angle on the right after Sullay Kaika's initial shot from inside the area had been blocked.
But the Leone Stars doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark courtesy of a blunder from Gilmar Tavinho, who allowed Koroma's first-time shot from 22 yards out to squirm out of his grasp and into the back of the net.
Tavinho got the basics right on 39 minutes when he gathered at the second attempt after positioning his body behind Alusine Koroma's shot from range.
The Falcons and True Parrots' cause wasn't helped by the fact that they gave the ball away far too cheaply in the first half due to numerous mis-placed passes and poor touches.
Adriano Eusebio's team made a promising start to the second half and finally created their first chance on 52 minutes when Eba Viegas cut back onto his left foot on the right and fired straight at Ibrahim Sesay.
Samura then made a timely challenge to prevent Ronaldo Afonso from converting Leonildo Soares' cross at the near post in the 54th minute.
Sierra Leone seemed happy to sit on their two-goal lead after the restart as they gave the island minnows far more space to string some passes together.
The West Africans still threatened though, and substitute Ron Williams had a sniff at goal on 71 minutes when Bundu played him through the middle but his volley lacked the necessary power to beat Tavinho.
Tinho was presented with an opportunity at the other end five minutes later after being picked out Viegas from the right but the substitute leaned back in the act of shooting and blazed well over the crossbar.
Sierra Leone invited increasing pressure on their goal in the closing stages as they dropped deeper and deeper, although the defence held firm to keep a clean sheet and pick up three precious points.
Sao Tome and Principe (0) 0
Sierra Leone (2) 2 (Samura 7', Alhassan Koroma 28')
Sao Tome and Principe:: G. Tavinho, L. Soares, I. Viegas, A. Ramos, A. Neves, E. Viegas (K. Semedo 81'), Aldair, Dinho (Tinho 46'), M. Barbeiro (Iniesta 90+3'), Harramiz (R. Afonso 46'), L. Leal.
Sao Sierra Leone: I. Sesay, A. Samura, S. Caulker, E. Samadia, M. Bundu (I. Turay 78'), P. Barrie, Alh. Koroma, A. Kargbo (J. Morsay 59'), S. Kaikai (K. Conteh 68'), Alu. Koroma, A. Kamara (R. Williams 67').