Striker Frederic Kanoute scored twice on his competitive international debut to give Mali a 3-1 win over Kenya in their African Nations Cup opener in Group B today.
Mohamed Lamine Sissoko, who like Kanoute had played for France at junior level before changing his footballing nationality earlier this month, put Mali ahead after 28 minutes.
Titus Mulama levelled for Kenya in the 58th minute but Kanoute restored Mali's lead five minutes later and then rifled home their third with nine minutes left.
The goals will have vindicated the striker's decision to play this tournament in the face of strong opposition from his English premier league club Tottenham Hotspur.
Mali's delighted French coach Henri Stambouli said: "We've won a lot of matches before this competition and we'd never really been in difficulty.
"Today we were, but my players showed they could deal with that - thanks to our qualities up front." He said of Kanoute: "A lot of people have criticised me for selecting certain players, but today the answer was there on the pitch, in his effectiveness and his model approach. He's an example for the whole group."
The French connection provided the kind of dividend which Malian soccer officials had been praying for at these finals. Their team enjoyed more control of the game but lived dangerously at times against Kenyan counter-attacks led by teenage striker Dennis Oliech, whose poor finishing in both halves cost his side dearly.
Mali applied the pressure and nearly took the lead when Kanoute set up Robert Mambo for a shot which cannoned off a defender. But Sissoko, who plays for Valencia in the Spanish Primera Liga, took full advantage of a mix-up to rob the Kenyan defence of possession and steer his shot past keeper Francis Onyiso.
Further shots flew wide of the target and the misses could have proved expensive after Mulama volleyed home an equaliser and the Kenyans pressed for a second goal. But Kanoute came to Mali's rescue, collecting a cross the right and rifling into the far corner minutes later.
Chances for the Kenyans to get back in the game were blazed off-target by Oliech before Kanoute put the result beyond doubt with a low shot. The Group B action continues later today with 2002 finalists Senegal due to take on Burkina Faso in Tunis.