Zambia on Friday demolished Madagascar 7-1 to go top of Group B on the opening day of the 2017 COSAFA Under-17 Cup in Mauritius.

Mumamba Numba’s side hit the ground running barely 24 hours after arriving in Mauritius due to passport issuance delays for four Zambian players in Lusaka.

A pair of hat-tricks from Lameck Banda and Martin Njobvu inspired Zambia to victory.

Banda was on target in the 9th, 31st and 37th minutes while Kingsley Hakwiya scored Zambia’s third goal in the 24th minute

Njobvu helped put Zambia 6-0 ahead into halftime when he hit the target in the 19th and 42nd minutes before completing his hat trick in the 74th minute.

Maimosa Adriamalala scored Madagascar’s consolation goal from the penalty spot in the 79th minute.

Zambia top Group B on goal difference after 2nd placed South Africa beat Mozambique 3-1 in the earlier kickoff in Port Louis.

South Africa and Zambia clash for a semifinal place in their penultimate Group B match on July 23.