Guinea scored six of the best in a goal feast on Saturday to bring Botswana back down to earth with a bang in their Group D match in Franceville.
The 6-1 win for Syli Nationale equals the record for the biggest winning margin in the finals, set in 1970 when Ivory Coast dismantled Ethiopia by same score.
Botswana had to play the second half down to 10 men but by then were already 3-1 down.
The deluge started after 15 minutes when Guinea's pace finally caught up with the nervy Zebras, who made a positive debut against Ghana on Tuesday but after 18 months of rapid progress up the ladder of African football have now been humbled.
Sadio Diallo swept the ball into the back off the net after a cross from the left, a move he was to repeat some 14 minutes later to make it 2-1.
Botswana had equalised in between when Guinea gave away a silly penalty after a poor back pass panicked goalkeeper Naby Yattara into bringing down the onrushing Jerome Ramatlhakwana.
Dipsy Selolwane looked nervous as he took his kick and saw it saved by Yattara. But the Guinea goalkeeper had moved forward before the kick was taken and the Botswana veteran was more successful at the second attempt.
After Diallo's second goal there were two more goals for Guinea before half-time. A first at international level for Abdoul Razzagui Camara came in the 42^nd minute with a tight effort from the left again, and Ibrahim Traore scored from a free kick on the stroke of half-time.
The kick had been allowed after a horror tackle by Patrick Motsepe, who had only just come onto the pitch as a substitute. His studs were showing as he tackled Pascal Feinduono and the Moroccan referee had no hesitation in sending him off.
After half-time it was one way traffic with a dreadful miss by Guinea as they missed an opportunity to increase their lead.
Feinduono should have been awarded a goal when his shot struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced out. Television replays showed it had crossed the line, again raising the debate about goal line technology.
Mamadou Dioune Bah netted the fifth goal six minutes from time with a rocket-like shot that took a deflection off Mogogi Gabonamong and gave the unfortunate Modiri Marumo in the Botswana goal no chance.
And the rout was complete two minutes later when Naby Soumah swept the ball home.
