Tottenham striker Kanoute, who had scored twice in Mali's opening 3-1 win over Kenya, was on target again as his side beat Burkina Faso by the same scoreline.

Kanoute opened the scoring after 34 minutes in a Group B showdown between West African neighbours.

Kanoute, who defied pleas from manager David Pleat to remain in England and help relegation-threatened Spurs, also created a goal as Mali joined hosts Tunisia in the last eight.

After representing France at under-age level, Kanoute switched to the home of his father when FIFA ruled that players with dual nationality can switch allegiance provided they have not been capped at senior level.

Mahamadou Diarra and Soumaila Coulibaly were also on target for Mali while substitute Dieudonne Minoungou scored for a Burkina Faso team that impressed when holding 2002 runners-up Senegal in the opening round.

Mali lead the table with six points after two rounds. Senegal have four, Burkina Faso one and Kenya none.

In the final series of matches Monday, Mali confront Senegal in a Tunis clash set to decide who tops the table while Burkina Faso meet whipping boys Kenya, who have already conceded six goals.

In Bizerte, Mamadou Niang scored twice as Senegal eased past the Kenyans 3-0 to edge closer to the quarter-finals and condemn their opponents to elimination.

After a disappointing 0-0 draw against Burkina Faso, the pressure was on Senegal to deliver and they did just that by outclassing Kenya in the opening 45 minutes.

Niang scored in the fourth and 30th minutes with Pape Bouba Diop adding another in the 18th as Senegal wrapped up victory by the break.

"I was disappointed I never made it on to the scoresheet," said Senegal's Liverpool ace El Hadji Diouf.

"But the other guys got the goals and that's important. I hope now we can go on and reach the quarterfinals.

"It has been my dream always to win the African Nations Cup and it would be an honour for me, my family and my country."

On Saturday, former double champions Nigeria could be eliminated if they lose to South Africa in Monastir and Morocco defeat Benin in Sfax in Group D.

Nigeria lost 1-0 to Morocco in their first match and were rocked by more controversy on Friday when three members of their squad were kicked out for alleged indiscipline.

Chelsea's Celestine Babayaro, Portsmouth striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Victor Agali of Bundesliga side Schalke 04 were all told to leave the team's base.

"We have decamped three players. They are Celestine Babayaro, Victor Agali and Yakubu Aiyegbeni," said Nigerian Football Association general secretary Taiwo Ogunjobi.

"They broke camp rules. They were supposed to be in bed after team prayers last night but they were not. They only returned to the hotel early this morning."