CABINDA, Angola, (Reuters) – Mali bowed out of the  African Nations Cup despite a 3-1 win over Malawi in their last  Group A game yesterday.

Mali finished third on four points, with hosts Angola  qualifying top with five points following a 0-0 draw with  second-placed Algeria (4), who advanced by virtue of their  head-to-head record with Mali.

Malawi were bottom with three points.

Mali, who lost 0-1 to Algeria last week, have not made it  past the first round since 2004 when they reached the  semi-finals.

They made a flying start when Frederic Kanoute volleyed home  a clumsy clearance by Malawi keeper Swadick Sanudi after 38  seconds.

Mali then went 2-0 up in the third minute when Seydou Keita  fired a 25-metre free kick straight into the top right corner of  the net.

Mamadou Bagayoko came close to a third when he unleashed a  volley from the edge of the box that was tipped away by Sanudi  at the end of a swift counter attack.

Although they were without the suspended Mahamadou Diarra,  Mali were completely on top in midfield.

Malawi had a chance to pull a goal back in the 24th minute  when a low shot by Esau Kanyenda was blocked by ‘keeper Mahamadou  Sidibe.

Russell Mwafulirwa finally pulled one back after 58 minutes  from a packed goalmouth after Sidibe failed to control a cross  from the left.

Mali, though, piled on the pressure again and Keita was  superbly denied by Sanudi before being brought down in the box  although referee Rajindraparsad Seechurn turned down penalty  claims.

Mwafulirwa missed a gilt-edged chance to grab an equaliser  in the 70th minute when he missed an open goal by heading down  and over the bar.

Bagayoko put the result beyond doubt with five minutes left,  heading in a Modibo Maiga cross from the right.