2018 World Cup qualifier: Kenya thrashes lowly ranked Mauritius 5-2

Kenya thrashed lowly ranked Mauritius 5-2 in Wednesday's 2018 World Cup qualifier away.

Johanna Omollo scored a double before paving way for Ayub Timbe, Haroun Shakava and Michael Olunga to score a goal each.

The hosts scored through Andy Sofie and Adrien Botler. Omollo opened the scores in the 18th minute before Timbe netted the second just five minutes later, straight from a corner kick.

Kenyan goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch was the busier of the two custodians early in the match.

He on two occasions had to deny the opposing strikers; first tipping over the bar a well taken free kick and then a few minutes later dealt well with a goal bound header.

But from then on, Harambee Stars took control of the game and to score three more and have one leg in the next round of the qualifiers.

The two teams will meet again on Sunday in Nairobi with the aggregate winner taking on Cape Verde.

If Kenya edges out Mauritius in this qualifier, they still have a long way to go before making it to the group stages of the competition.

They will have to navigate past Cape Verde a country that has graced the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in a home and away fixture to be played next month.

The winner of the Kenya/ Cape Verde match will then join 20 other winners from round two forming five groups of four teams each in the last round of qualifiers.

The group winners will then proceed to the 2018 World Cup to be held in Russia.