Equatorial Guinea beat Botswana 2-0 in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group J match at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo in Malabo on Friday night.
The elevated the National Thunder to the top of the group standings - two points clear of second-placed Tunisia - while Botswana remained at the bottom of the table.
Botswana will now play host to Equatorial Guinea at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, where the Zebras will be hoping to record their first win in Group J on Tuesday.
The National Thunder exerted pressure on the Zebras defence which looked shaky from the first whistle and the hosts managed to break the deadlock in the 20th minute.
Saul Coco was the man who hit the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea after the Botswana backline was exposed and the home side was leading 1-0 during the halftime break.
The hosts continued to pile pressure on the visitors' defence after the restart and Botswana were reduced to 10 players when Thato Kebue was shown a red card after receiving his second yellow card in the 53rd minute.
Juan Micha Obiang's side then took advantage of their numerical superiority over the Zebras when Federico Bikoro beat goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko to seal Equatorial Guinea's 2-0 win over Botswana.
Guinea (1) 2 (Coco 20', Bikoro 66')
Botswana 0
Guinea: Owono, Enrique, Coco, Obiang, Ndong, Baldoa, Garnet (Buyla 80'), Bikoro (Nlavo 70'), Salvador (Garrido 90'+2), Miranda (Eneme 79'), Nsue.
Botswana: Phoko, Velaphi, Johnson, Ditlhokwe, Kebue, Gaolaolwe, Maswena (Orebonye 46'), Cooper (Elias 67'), Kebatho, Seakanyeng (Mangolo 76'), Sesinyi (Ditsele 46').