Captain Knowledge Musona scored a hatrick as Zimbabwe Warriors put up an all-round performance in their quest for a place at the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon with a 3-0 over Liberia at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The Warriors were fluid from the start with Musona, Kamusoko and Mahachi getting early chances before Musona opened the scoring midway through the first half after getting to the end of a long pass from Danny Phiri which caught the Liberian defence flat footed. 

Tendai Ndoro had a chance to double the lead moments later but his header went agonisingly wide from a close range. Kamusoko was to rattle the woodwork with a long range free kick five minutes before the breather.

Musona who was bestowed with the armband a few days ago doubled the lead early in the second stanza connecting a cross from Kuda Mahachi on the right. 

The Belgium based striker completed his hatrick in the 63rd minute this time from a Patson Jaure cross on the right. Musona could have grabbed his fourth but he was denied by the crossbar. 

With the hatrick, Musona becomes the third player to score three goals for the Warriors after Vitalis Takawira in the 4-1 win over Cameroon and Peter Ndlovu against Swaziland.

Substitutes Evans Rusike and Ovidy Karuru also came close but lacked the precision.

Despite failing to put away some of the chances that came their way, the Warriors put up one of their best performances in recent years with methodical build ups from the back going forward. Goalkeeper George Chigova was rarely tested as he had enough cover from the defence.

The victory was reminiscent of the 2012 qualifiers in which the Warriors beat the Lone Stars 3-0 at the National Sports Stadium with Willard Katsande, Ovidy Karuru and Khama Billiat getting the goals. 

The 3-0 win puts the Warriors top of Group G via goal difference, with DR Congo in second after their 3-1 win over Congo.

Elsewhere, Ethiopia were no match for hosts Ghana in Group F, as the Black Stars romped to a 5-0 win thanks to a Raphael Dwamena brace, with Ebenzeer Ofori, John Boye and Asamoha Gyan also on the scoresheet. Ghana are top of Group F alongside Sierra Leone, who were surprise 2-1 winners over Kenya.

Central African Republic join Guinea at the summit of Group H after their 2-1 win over Rwanda, while Benin went top of Group D with a 1-0 win over Gambia.

The twelve winners of each group along with the best three group runners-up will qualify for the 2019 Afcon, along with the hosts Cameroon.