Before the match:   
The probably most exciting matchup. 
Mali, one of the more talented West African teams with an impressive youth record recently and some good results now and then. They were unlucky not to qualify for the last African Cup Of Nations and look like a team with some future. The are unlucky again that they have to play Libya.  
Libya had been banned from the African competitions because of the now lifted UN-sanctions. It is their return to the big stage. But Libya is especially strong at home in front of their fanatic fans and has been helped by the Ghaddafi-Maradona connection: Their coach is the former Argentinian world cup coach Dr. Carlos Bilardo. A real 50:50 thriller with both teams normally deserving a place on second round. 

1st half:  
a huge and anthusiastic crowd creates real World Cup atmosophere... 
-('2) first excitement after a Libyan player manages a cross from the right hand side against 3 players but it is cleared for a corner 
-('4) Libya again along the right hand side: this time the cross finds a player who heads it to #11 who is unmarked and scorews from short range. A Mali defender seems closer to the goalline - so no offside - 1:0 
Mali answer with attacks - Libya lure for possible counter attacks 
-('12) The ground which consists of grass pieces outrolled for this match, stops a promising Libyan counter attack 
-('13) Libyan #14 is conspicious with dribblings and through ball attempts 
-('14) Mali: A distance shot by #16 (Mohamed Diarra?) is saved without problem by the Libyan keeper 
-('15) It is Libya #22 again with a cross from right wing (him and sometimes #20 show up here), a Mali defender malcalculates the ball and helps himself by handball 18 meters in front of the goal. But the free kick is stopped by the wall. 
The Libyan attacks are very fast, sometimes initialised by fast executed free kicks 
-('19) A Mali player is unmarked but the offside whistle goes. TIt seems doubtful but the player had targeted wide anyway. 
-('21) Libya: Another fast counter attack by #11 who passes to #9 who shoots far wide 
Libya plays a nice blend of individual skill and fast, room-consuming passing sequences 
-('32) Mali manage to put some pressure upon the hosts now 
-('35) Libya: it is #11 again, who starts an attack but #9 is blocked for a corner 
-('40) Libya: #9 wins against a defender but his diagonal attempt from the right hand side is saved 
-('44) Mali: a free kick from 25 meters gets defelected wide 

Halftime 1:0  
Libya with a nice blend of style and dangerous fast counter attacks. The difficult ground obsructed more their own game than the one of Mali. During the first half Mali gained more control but could not threaten the hosts goal. Libya lost some power towards the end of the half. If they can refocus they might create a difficult task for their opponents for the 2nd leg. 

2nd half:  
Libya with a very defensive approach for a home team. This has made the crowd a bit silent. 
-('56) out of nothing the second goal: a long ball into the penalty area and #9, unmarked, gets it passed the keeper who looks a bit intimidated by the relatively high foot of the striker- 2:0 
Mali answer with attacks like after the first goal, but the hosts have gained a boost from the goal as well. The match now more lively than in the first 10 minutes of the half. 
-('65) A Libyan player who had been treated for injury stops (irritates) a Mali attack by running onto the field from the ground line. He receives a yellow card and Mali is awarded a free kick from the corner of the penalty area on the ground line. But the sharp shot inside is defended by the Libyans. 
-('70) Mali with a half chance after a corner but a poor finishing 
-('73) Libya: with a fast and good looking passing attack but a diagonal shot is saved by the Mali keeper 
-('75) some fireworks lands on the field near two players (one of each team) 
-('76) Mali bring on their second substitute 
-('77) Libyan players already look like they start to have cramps from running 
the match has been delayed by some injury breaks now  
too much hectic in the Mali efforts 
-('82) after a foul on a Libyan player the referee let play on the advantage, Mali look unconcentrated and Libya can run the counter attack. From a relatively less dangerous position #10 (?) can score only because the Mali keeper had left his goal probably too early - 3:0, an attack in which the Mali defence looked odd 
-('88) Libya with another opportunity  
Libya surprisingly well in one against one situations throughout the match 
-('90) a desperate long ball attack by Mali is intercepted by the alert Libyan keeper 
-('injury time) the crowd makes giant noise, asking for the final whistle and players have difficulties hearing the referee, after 4 minutes injury time the match is over 

Final 3:0  
Mali with no impact against a good, but not sensational Libyan team. The unnecessary second half  goals (especially the third one) might prove as a too big deficit for the West Africans in the second leg. This return match should give more indications on how strong Libya really is.